diff --git a/image_prediction/stitching/merging.py b/image_prediction/stitching/merging.py
index 7f4442c..96da32b 100644
--- a/image_prediction/stitching/merging.py
+++ b/image_prediction/stitching/merging.py
@@ -3,15 +3,18 @@ from functools import reduce
 from typing import Iterable, Callable, List
 
 from PIL import Image
-from funcy import juxt, first, rest, rcompose, rpartial, complement, ilen
+from funcy import juxt, first, rest, rcompose, rpartial
 
 from image_prediction.image_extractor.extractor import ImageMetadataPair
 from image_prediction.info import Info
 from image_prediction.stitching.grouping import CoordGrouper
 from image_prediction.stitching.split_mapper import HorizontalSplitMapper, VerticalSplitMapper
 from image_prediction.stitching.utils import make_coord_getter, flatten_groups_once, validate_box
+from image_prediction.utils import get_logger
 from image_prediction.utils.generic import until
 
+logger = get_logger()
+
 
 def make_merger_sentinel():
     def no_new_mergers(pairs):
@@ -184,7 +187,10 @@ def concat_images(im1: Image, im2: Image, metadata: dict, axis):
 
     for im, offset in zip(images, offsets):
         box = (offset, 0) if not axis else (0, offset)
-        # TODO: replace image that cannot be opened with white image of same size
-        im_aggr.paste(im, box=box)
+
+        try:  # RED-5170: fails if image is 'broken'
+            im_aggr.paste(im, box=box)
+        except Exception as err:
+            logger.warn(f"{err}: couldn't merge images, replace and passthrough. (page: {metadata[Info.PAGE_IDX]})")
 
     return im_aggr