diff --git a/evennia/scripts/taskhandler.py b/evennia/scripts/taskhandler.py
index 11ac144a94..3273e27e8a 100644
--- a/evennia/scripts/taskhandler.py
+++ b/evennia/scripts/taskhandler.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
 from twisted.internet import reactor
 from twisted.internet.task import deferLater
+from twisted.internet.defer import CancelledError as DefCancelledError
 from evennia.server.models import ServerConfig
 from evennia.utils.logger import log_err
 from evennia.utils.dbserialize import dbserialize, dbunserialize
@@ -13,6 +14,17 @@ from evennia.utils.dbserialize import dbserialize, dbunserialize
 TASK_HANDLER = None
 
 
+def handle_error(*args, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Handle errors withing deferred objects.
+    """
+    for arg in args:
+        # suppress cancel errors
+        if arg.type == DefCancelledError:
+            continue
+        raise arg
+
+
 class TaskHandler(object):
 
     """
@@ -179,7 +191,9 @@ class TaskHandler(object):
             deferLater(self.clock, timedelay, callback, *args, **kwargs)
             return task_id
 
-        return deferLater(self.clock, timedelay, callback, *args, **kwargs)
+        d = deferLater(self.clock, timedelay, callback, *args, **kwargs)
+        d.addErrback(handle_error)
+        return d
 
     def remove(self, task_id):
         """Remove a persistent task without executing it.
diff --git a/evennia/utils/tests/test_utils.py b/evennia/utils/tests/test_utils.py
index ea23601fce..bebea149ce 100644
--- a/evennia/utils/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/evennia/utils/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import mock
 
 from django.test import TestCase
 from datetime import datetime
-from twisted.internet import task, reactor
+from twisted.internet import task
 
 from evennia.utils.ansi import ANSIString
 from evennia.utils import utils
@@ -338,3 +338,9 @@ class TestDelay(EvenniaTest):
         _TASK_HANDLER.clock.advance(1)  # make time pass
         self.assertEqual(self.char1.ndb.dummy_var, 'dummy_func ran')
         self.char1.ndb.dummy_var = False
+        # test canceling a deferral.
+        deferal_inst = utils.delay(1, dummy_func, self.char1.dbref)
+        deferal_inst.cancel()
+        _TASK_HANDLER.clock.advance(1)  # make time pass
+        self.assertEqual(self.char1.ndb.dummy_var, False)
+        self.char1.ndb.dummy_var = False