Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MainApplication.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MainApplication.java	(revision 18596)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MainApplication.java	(revision 18598)
@@ -1123,4 +1123,9 @@
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Set up the UI manager
+     */
+    // We want to catch all exceptions here to reset LaF to defaults and report it.
+    @SuppressWarnings("squid:S2221")
     static void setupUIManager() {
         String defaultlaf = PlatformManager.getPlatform().getDefaultStyle();
@@ -1149,4 +1154,9 @@
                     LafPreference.LAF.put(defaultlaf);
                     Logging.trace(ex);
+                } catch (Exception ex) {
+                    // We do not want to silently exit if there is an exception.
+                    // Put the default laf in place so that the user can use JOSM.
+                    LafPreference.LAF.put(defaultlaf);
+                    BugReportExceptionHandler.handleException(ex);
                 }
             } else {
@@ -1160,4 +1170,9 @@
         } catch (InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException e) {
             Logging.error(e);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            // We do not want to silently exit if there is an exception.
+            // Put the default laf in place.
+            LafPreference.LAF.put(defaultlaf);
+            BugReportExceptionHandler.handleException(e);
         }