diff --git a/src/statd/python/yanger/yanger.py b/src/statd/python/yanger/yanger.py
index c3d7680a..1d1f4b15 100755
--- a/src/statd/python/yanger/yanger.py
+++ b/src/statd/python/yanger/yanger.py
@@ -621,10 +621,10 @@ def add_ethtool_groups(ifname, iface_out):
     """Fetch interface counters from kernel"""
 
     data = run_json_cmd(['ethtool', '--json', '-S', ifname, '--all-groups'],
-            f"ethtool-groups-{ifname}.json")
+                        f"ethtool-groups-{ifname}.json")
     if len(data) != 1:
-        print("Error: expected ethtool groups output to be array with length 1", file=sys.stderr)
-        sys.exit(1)
+        print(f"Error: no counters available for {ifname}, skipping.")
+        return
 
     iface_in = data[0]
 
diff --git a/src/statd/statd.c b/src/statd/statd.c
index 46a31a9c..70aeb4ab 100644
--- a/src/statd/statd.c
+++ b/src/statd/statd.c
@@ -130,8 +130,12 @@ static json_t *json_get_ip_link(void)
 	return json_get_output(cmd);
 }
 
+/*
+ * The 'fail' parameter is true for most calls to this function, except
+ * when reading ethtool data (below).
+ */
 static int ly_add_yanger_data(const struct ly_ctx *ctx, struct lyd_node **parent,
-			      const char *model, const char *arg)
+			      const char *model, const char *arg, bool fail)
 {
 	char *yanger_args[5] = {
 		"/usr/libexec/statd/yanger",
@@ -173,6 +177,8 @@ static int ly_add_yanger_data(const struct ly_ctx *ctx, struct lyd_node **parent
 		ERROR("Error, running yanger");
 		fclose(stream);
 		close(fd);
+		if (!fail)
+			return SR_ERR_OK;
 		return SR_ERR_SYS;
 	}
 
@@ -205,7 +211,8 @@ static int sr_ifaces_cb(sr_session_ctx_t *session, uint32_t, const char *path,
 	char *ifname;
 	int err;
 
-	DEBUG("Incoming query for xpath: %s", path);
+	ifname = &sub->name[3];
+	DEBUG("Incoming query for xpath: %s, ifname %s", path, ifname);
 
 	con = sr_session_get_connection(session);
 	if (!con) {
@@ -219,8 +226,13 @@ static int sr_ifaces_cb(sr_session_ctx_t *session, uint32_t, const char *path,
 		return SR_ERR_INTERNAL;
 	}
 
-	ifname = &sub->name[3];
-	err = ly_add_yanger_data(ctx, parent, "ietf-interfaces", ifname);
+	/*
+	 * If ethtool fails, it just means this interface doesn't have
+	 * counters (in JSON format).  Possibly because this board +
+	 * driver combo is not 100% supported yet.  This is fine, no
+	 * need to break the operational datastore though.
+	 */
+	err = ly_add_yanger_data(ctx, parent, "ietf-interfaces", ifname, false);
 	if (err)
 		ERROR("Error adding yanger data");
 
@@ -251,7 +263,7 @@ static int sr_ospf_cb(sr_session_ctx_t *session, uint32_t, const char *,
 		return SR_ERR_INTERNAL;
 	}
 
-	err = ly_add_yanger_data(ctx, parent, "ietf-ospf", NULL);
+	err = ly_add_yanger_data(ctx, parent, "ietf-ospf", NULL, true);
 	if (err)
 		ERROR("Error adding yanger data");
 
@@ -282,7 +294,7 @@ static int sr_generic_cb(sr_session_ctx_t *session, uint32_t, const char *model,
 		return SR_ERR_INTERNAL;
 	}
 
-	err = ly_add_yanger_data(ctx, parent, model, NULL);
+	err = ly_add_yanger_data(ctx, parent, model, NULL, true);
 	if (err)
 		ERROR("Error adding yanger data");