diff --git a/lib/bb/fetch/__init__.py b/lib/bb/fetch/__init__.py
index 55ab710f3..0c3a4a7d4 100644
--- a/lib/bb/fetch/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/bb/fetch/__init__.py
@@ -1884,9 +1884,12 @@ class Fetch(object):
 
         return local
 
-    def download(self, urls=None):
+    def download(self, urls=None, log_errors=True):
         """
         Fetch all urls
+
+        log_errors=False logs the first fetch failure at WARNING instead of
+        ERROR, for callers that treat a fetch failure as recoverable.
         """
         if not urls:
             urls = self.urls
@@ -1957,7 +1960,10 @@ class Fetch(object):
 
                 if not done or not m.done(ud, d):
                     if firsterr:
-                        logger.error(str(firsterr))
+                        if log_errors:
+                            logger.error(str(firsterr))
+                        else:
+                            logger.warning(str(firsterr))
                     raise FetchError("Unable to fetch URL from any source.", u)
 
                 m.update_donestamp(ud, d)