diff --git a/__tests__/shared/services/money.js b/__tests__/shared/services/money.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9883d9abd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/__tests__/shared/services/money.js
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/* eslint-env jest */
+
+jest.mock('isomorphic-fetch', () => jest.fn());
+jest.mock('money', () => ({
+  convert: jest.fn(() => 42),
+}));
+jest.mock('topcoder-react-utils', () => ({
+  config: {
+    CDN: { PUBLIC: 'https://cdn.example.com' },
+  },
+  isomorphy: {
+    isClientSide: () => false,
+  },
+}));
+
+const fetch = require('isomorphic-fetch');
+const fx = require('money');
+
+fetch.mockResolvedValue({
+  ok: false,
+  statusText: 'Internal Server Error',
+});
+
+const money = jest.requireActual('../../../src/shared/services/money');
+
+describe('money service', () => {
+  test('keeps background refresh failures from becoming unhandled rejections', async () => {
+    expect(money.getRatesNow()).toEqual({ timestamp: 0 });
+    expect(money.convertNow(10, 'EUR')).toBe(42);
+
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    await Promise.resolve();
+
+    expect(fetch).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+    expect(fx.convert).toHaveBeenCalledWith(10, { from: 'USD', to: 'EUR' });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/shared/services/money.js b/src/shared/services/money.js
index 996ec4634..c0d10ddca 100644
--- a/src/shared/services/money.js
+++ b/src/shared/services/money.js
@@ -36,12 +36,20 @@ async function updateCache() {
   fx.rates = cache.rates;
 }
 
-try {
-  updateCache();
-} catch (error) {
-  // exchange-rates failed, reason: socket hang up
+/**
+ * Starts a cache refresh without blocking synchronous callers.
+ *
+ * Used during module initialization and by the synchronous public methods.
+ * Refresh failures are consumed so existing cached rates remain available
+ * instead of creating an unhandled Promise rejection.
+ * @return {void}
+ */
+function refreshCacheInBackground() {
+  updateCache().catch(_.noop);
 }
 
+refreshCacheInBackground();
+
 /**
  * Converts specified amount of money to another currency.
  * @param {Number} amount Amount of money to convert.
@@ -61,21 +69,16 @@ export async function convert(amount, to, from = 'USD') {
 }
 
 /**
- * Same as convert(..), but works syncroneously (using cached rates).
- * This function still triggers refreshement of the cached rates if necessary,
- * but it does not wait for the result, and just uses cached rates for the
- * actual conversion. It is safe to use anyway
- * @param {Number} amount
- * @param {String} to
- * @param {String} from
- * @return {Number}
+ * Converts an amount synchronously using cached rates while triggering a
+ * non-blocking refresh when the cache is stale. Refresh failures are ignored
+ * and leave the existing cache in place.
+ * @param {Number} amount Amount of money to convert.
+ * @param {String} to Target currency (3-letter code such as USD or EUR).
+ * @param {String} from Original currency. Defaults to USD.
+ * @return {Number} Converted amount.
  */
 export function convertNow(amount, to, from = 'USD') {
-  try {
-    updateCache();
-  } catch (error) {
-    // exchange-rates failed, reason: socket hang up
-  }
+  refreshCacheInBackground();
   return fx.convert(amount, { from, to });
 }
 
@@ -93,14 +96,11 @@ export async function getRates() {
 }
 
 /**
- * Same as getRates(..) but works syncroneously, using the cached rates.
- * @return {Promise}
+ * Returns cached exchange rates synchronously while triggering a non-blocking
+ * refresh when the cache is stale. Refresh failures leave the cache unchanged.
+ * @return {Object} A clone of the cached exchange-rate data.
  */
 export function getRatesNow() {
-  try {
-    updateCache();
-  } catch (error) {
-    // exchange-rates failed, reason: socket hang up
-  }
+  refreshCacheInBackground();
   return _.cloneDeep(cache);
 }