diff --git a/src/uwtools/drivers/driver.py b/src/uwtools/drivers/driver.py
index 107fd800a..dfdf80d44 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/drivers/driver.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/drivers/driver.py
@@ -401,7 +401,10 @@ def show_output(self):
         Show the output to be created by this component.
         """
         yield self.taskname("expected output")
-        print(json.dumps(self.output, indent=2, sort_keys=True))
+        try:
+            print(json.dumps(self.output, indent=2, sort_keys=True))
+        except UWConfigError as e:
+            log.error(e)
         yield asset(None, lambda: True)
 
     @task
diff --git a/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_driver.py b/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_driver.py
index 25dd0f625..9f33c2961 100644
--- a/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_driver.py
+++ b/src/uwtools/tests/drivers/test_driver.py
@@ -457,6 +457,13 @@ def test_driver_show_output(capsys, config):
     assert capsys.readouterr().out.strip() == dedent(expected).strip()
 
 
+def test_driver_show_output_fail(caplog, config):
+    with patch.object(ConcreteDriverTimeInvariant, "output", new_callable=PropertyMock) as output:
+        output.side_effect = UWConfigError("FAIL")
+        ConcreteDriverTimeInvariant(config).show_output()
+    assert "FAIL" in caplog.messages
+
+
 @mark.parametrize(
     "base_file,update_values,expected",
     [