diff --git a/writeengine/client/we_clients.cpp b/writeengine/client/we_clients.cpp
index 9ad4c046e..ffb0e9dee 100644
--- a/writeengine/client/we_clients.cpp
+++ b/writeengine/client/we_clients.cpp
@@ -501,9 +501,10 @@ void WEClients::write(const messageqcpp::ByteStream& msg, uint32_t connection)
     fPmConnections[connection]->write(msg);
   else
   {
-    ostringstream os;
-    os << "Lost connection to WriteEngineServer on pm" << connection;
-    throw runtime_error(os.str());
+    // new behavior: connection client is nullptr means it is read-only.
+//    ostringstream os;
+//    os << "Lost connection to WriteEngineServer on pm" << connection;
+//    throw runtime_error(os.str());
   }
 }