diff --git a/tests/fixtures/layouts/broken-template.yaml b/tests/fixtures/layouts/broken-template.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1d56cf7cc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/layouts/broken-template.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+- pipeline:
+    name: gate
+    manager: dependent
+    trigger:
+      gerrit:
+        - event: comment-added
+          approval:
+            - Approved: 1
+    success:
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: 2
+        submit: true
+    failure:
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: -2
+    start:
+      gerrit:
+        Verified: 0
+
+- job:
+    name: base
+    parent: null
+
+- project:
+    name: org/project
+    templates:
+      - does-not-exist
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_v3.py b/tests/unit/test_v3.py
index 0aa6aea7ea..284a4fe14e 100755
--- a/tests/unit/test_v3.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_v3.py
@@ -25,7 +25,12 @@ from unittest import skip
 
 import zuul.configloader
 from zuul.lib import encryption
-from tests.base import AnsibleZuulTestCase, ZuulTestCase, FIXTURE_DIR
+from tests.base import (
+    AnsibleZuulTestCase,
+    ZuulTestCase,
+    FIXTURE_DIR,
+    simple_layout,
+)
 
 
 class TestMultipleTenants(AnsibleZuulTestCase):
@@ -2462,6 +2467,18 @@ class TestBrokenConfig(ZuulTestCase):
             "Zuul encountered a syntax error",
             str(tenant.layout.loading_errors[0].error))
 
+    @simple_layout('layouts/broken-template.yaml')
+    def test_broken_config_on_startup_template(self):
+        # Verify that a missing project-template doesn't break gate
+        # pipeline construction.
+        tenant = self.sched.abide.tenants.get('tenant-one')
+        self.assertEquals(
+            len(tenant.layout.loading_errors), 1,
+            "An error should have been stored")
+        self.assertIn(
+            "Zuul encountered a syntax error",
+            str(tenant.layout.loading_errors[0].error))
+
     def test_dynamic_ignore(self):
         # Verify dynamic config behaviors inside a tenant broken config
         tenant = self.sched.abide.tenants.get('tenant-one')
diff --git a/zuul/model.py b/zuul/model.py
index 4e41dd2907..24162c6942 100644
--- a/zuul/model.py
+++ b/zuul/model.py
@@ -159,6 +159,11 @@ class NoMatchingParentError(Exception):
     pass
 
 
+class TemplateNotFoundError(Exception):
+    """A project referenced a template that does not exist."""
+    pass
+
+
 class Attributes(object):
     """A class to hold attributes for string formatting."""
 
@@ -3098,7 +3103,7 @@ class Layout(object):
     def getProjectTemplates(self, name):
         pt = self.project_templates.get(name, None)
         if pt is None:
-            raise Exception("Project template %s not found" % name)
+            raise TemplateNotFoundError("Project template %s not found" % name)
         return pt
 
     def addProjectConfig(self, project_config):
@@ -3120,13 +3125,17 @@ class Layout(object):
     def getAllProjectConfigs(self, name):
         # Get all the project configs (project and project-template
         # stanzas) for a project.
-        ret = []
-        for pc in self.getProjectConfigs(name):
-            ret.append(pc)
-            for template_name in pc.templates:
-                templates = self.getProjectTemplates(template_name)
-                ret.extend(templates)
-        return ret
+        try:
+            ret = []
+            for pc in self.getProjectConfigs(name):
+                ret.append(pc)
+                for template_name in pc.templates:
+                    templates = self.getProjectTemplates(template_name)
+                    ret.extend(templates)
+            return ret
+        except TemplateNotFoundError as e:
+            self.log.warning("%s for project %s" % (e, name))
+            return []
 
     def getProjectMetadata(self, name):
         if name in self.project_metadata: