diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py
index 1fda884e9ae..380d61c66a6 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py
@@ -337,10 +337,7 @@ def match_downloaded_specs(pkgs, allow_multiple_matches=False, force=False,
     specs_from_cli = []
     has_errors = False
 
-    try:
-        specs = bindist.update_cache_and_get_specs()
-    except bindist.FetchCacheError as e:
-        tty.error(e)
+    specs = bindist.update_cache_and_get_specs()
 
     if not other_arch:
         arch = spack.spec.Spec.default_arch()
@@ -572,10 +569,7 @@ def install_tarball(spec, args):
 
 def listspecs(args):
     """list binary packages available from mirrors"""
-    try:
-        specs = bindist.update_cache_and_get_specs()
-    except bindist.FetchCacheError as e:
-        tty.error(e)
+    specs = bindist.update_cache_and_get_specs()
 
     if not args.allarch:
         arch = spack.spec.Spec.default_arch()