diff --git a/parsers/caves.py b/parsers/caves.py
index 6c9d749..4290efc 100644
--- a/parsers/caves.py
+++ b/parsers/caves.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ todo='''- db Update does not work when a cave id is in the pending list but a pr
    
  - Cannot use Edit This Page for pendingcaves.txt_edit as Edit This Page is expecting an html file.
    So we will need a separate file-editing capability just for this configuration file ?!
+   
+- crashes on MariaDB on server when deleting Caves and complains Area needs a non null parent, But this is not true.
 '''
 entrances_xslug = {}
 caves_xslug = {}
@@ -149,9 +151,19 @@ def readcaves():
 
     with transaction.atomic():
         print(" - Deleting Caves and Entrances")
-        Area.objects.all().delete()
-        Cave.objects.all().delete()
-        Entrance.objects.all().delete()
+        # attempting to avoid MariaDB crash when doing this
+        try:
+            Area.objects.all().delete()
+        except:
+            pass
+        try:
+            Cave.objects.all().delete()
+        except:
+            pass
+        try:
+            Entrance.objects.all().delete()
+        except:
+            pass
         # Clear the cave data issues and the caves as we are reloading
         DataIssue.objects.filter(parser='areas').delete()
         DataIssue.objects.filter(parser='caves').delete()