couch_stats is an optional dependency
diff --git a/src/couch_log.app.src b/src/couch_log.app.src
index 0231860..f8372ca 100644
--- a/src/couch_log.app.src
+++ b/src/couch_log.app.src
@@ -15,5 +15,5 @@
     {vsn, git},
     {modules, [couch_log]},
     {registered, []},
-    {applications, [kernel, stdlib, lager, couch_stats]}
+    {applications, [kernel, stdlib, lager]}
 ]}.
diff --git a/src/couch_log.erl b/src/couch_log.erl
index 9c5b7e8..256a4ef 100644
--- a/src/couch_log.erl
+++ b/src/couch_log.erl
@@ -15,33 +15,33 @@
 -export([debug/2, info/2, notice/2, warning/2, error/2, critical/2, alert/2, emergency/2]).
 
 debug(Fmt, Args) ->
-    couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, debug]),
+    catch couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, debug]),
     lager:debug(Fmt, Args).
 
 info(Fmt, Args) ->
-    couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, info]),
+    catch couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, info]),
     lager:info(Fmt, Args).
 
 notice(Fmt, Args) ->
-    couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, notice]),
+    catch couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, notice]),
     lager:notice(Fmt, Args).
 
 warning(Fmt, Args) ->
-    couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, warning]),
+    catch couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, warning]),
     lager:warning(Fmt, Args).
 
 error(Fmt, Args) ->
-    couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, error]),
+    catch couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, 'error']),
     lager:error(Fmt, Args).
 
 critical(Fmt, Args) ->
-    couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, critical]),
+    catch couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, critical]),
     lager:critical(Fmt, Args).
 
 alert(Fmt, Args) ->
-    couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, alert]),
+    catch couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, alert]),
     lager:alert(Fmt, Args).
 
 emergency(Fmt, Args) ->
-    couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, emergency]),
+    catch couch_stats:increment_counter([couch_log, level, emergency]),
     lager:emergency(Fmt, Args).