diff --git a/lib/common/util.js b/lib/common/util.js
index c4b86804932..4e469eb6b76 100644
--- a/lib/common/util.js
+++ b/lib/common/util.js
@@ -426,7 +426,11 @@ function makeAuthorizedRequest(config) {
   function authorize(reqOpts, callback) {
     getAuthClient(function(err, authClient) {
       if (err) {
-        callback(err);
+        if (err.message.indexOf("Could not load") === 0) {
+          callback(null, reqOpts);
+        } else {
+          callback(err);
+        }
         return;
       }