diff --git a/src/dk/ative/docjure/spreadsheet.clj b/src/dk/ative/docjure/spreadsheet.clj
index 6235ebb..fb69d62 100644
--- a/src/dk/ative/docjure/spreadsheet.clj
+++ b/src/dk/ative/docjure/spreadsheet.clj
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
                                 CellValue Drawing CreationHelper)
    (org.apache.poi.ss.util CellReference AreaReference)))
 
+(def ^:dynamic *ignore-missing-workbooks* false)
+
 (defmacro assert-type [value expected-type]
   `(when-not (isa? (class ~value) ~expected-type)
      (throw (IllegalArgumentException.
@@ -37,12 +39,13 @@
 (defmethod read-cell Cell/CELL_TYPE_STRING    [^Cell cell]  (.getStringCellValue cell))
 (defmethod read-cell Cell/CELL_TYPE_FORMULA   [^Cell cell]
   (let [evaluator (.. cell getSheet getWorkbook
-                      getCreationHelper createFormulaEvaluator)
-        cv (.evaluate evaluator cell)]
-    (if (and (= Cell/CELL_TYPE_NUMERIC (.getCellType cv))
-             (DateUtil/isCellDateFormatted cell))
-      (.getDateCellValue cell)
-      (read-cell-value cv false))))
+                      getCreationHelper createFormulaEvaluator)]
+    (.setIgnoreMissingWorkbooks evaluator *ignore-missing-workbooks*)
+    (let [cv (.evaluate evaluator cell)]
+      (if (and (= Cell/CELL_TYPE_NUMERIC (.getCellType cv))
+               (DateUtil/isCellDateFormatted cell))
+        (.getDateCellValue cell)
+        (read-cell-value cv false)))))
 (defmethod read-cell Cell/CELL_TYPE_BOOLEAN   [^Cell cell]  (.getBooleanCellValue cell))
 (defmethod read-cell Cell/CELL_TYPE_NUMERIC   [^Cell cell]
   (if (DateUtil/isCellDateFormatted cell)
diff --git a/test/dk/ative/docjure/spreadsheet_test.clj b/test/dk/ative/docjure/spreadsheet_test.clj
index bfd5873..793268a 100644
--- a/test/dk/ative/docjure/spreadsheet_test.clj
+++ b/test/dk/ative/docjure/spreadsheet_test.clj
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
              :1900-based-file "test/dk/ative/docjure/testdata/1900-based-dates.xlsx"
              :1904-based-file "test/dk/ative/docjure/testdata/1904-based-dates.xlsx"
              :simple "test/dk/ative/docjure/testdata/simple.xlsx"
-             :save-workbook-location "test/dk/ative/docjure/testdata/saved.xlsx"})
+             :save-workbook-location "test/dk/ative/docjure/testdata/saved.xlsx"
+             :missing-workbook "test/dk/ative/docjure/testdata/missing-workbook.xlsx"})
 
 (def datatypes-map {:A :text, :B :integer, :C :decimal, :D :date, :E :time, :F :date-time, :G :percentage, :H :fraction, :I :scientific, :J :date-formulae})
 (def formulae-map {:A :formula, :B :expected})
@@ -935,3 +936,14 @@
         (is (= 1.0      (read-cell (select-cell "A2" worksheet))))
         (is (= 4.0      (read-cell (select-cell "B2" worksheet))))
         (is (= 5.0      (read-cell (select-cell "B3" worksheet))))))))
+
+(deftest can-ignore-missing-workbooks-test
+  (let [file (config :missing-workbook)
+        loaded (load-workbook file)
+        worksheet (first (sheet-seq loaded))]
+    (testing "throws an exception by default"
+      (is (thrown? java.lang.RuntimeException
+                   (read-cell (select-cell "A1" worksheet)))))
+    (testing "retrieves cached value when ignoring missing workbooks"
+      (binding [*ignore-missing-workbooks* true]
+        (is (= 6.0 (read-cell (select-cell "A1" worksheet))))))))
diff --git a/test/dk/ative/docjure/testdata/missing-workbook.xlsx b/test/dk/ative/docjure/testdata/missing-workbook.xlsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8204cdf
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/dk/ative/docjure/testdata/missing-workbook.xlsx differ