diff --git a/app/controllers/volunteers_controller.rb b/app/controllers/volunteers_controller.rb
index 519407c3fc..1cb691e115 100644
--- a/app/controllers/volunteers_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/volunteers_controller.rb
@@ -32,13 +32,22 @@ def create
     authorize @volunteer
 
     if @volunteer.save
-      @volunteer.invite!(current_user)
+      # invitation error handling
+      begin
+        @volunteer.invite!(current_user)
+      rescue => e
+        flash[:alert] = "Volunteer invitation failed. Reason: #{e.message}"
+      end
+
       # call short io api here
-      raw_token = @volunteer.raw_invitation_token
-      invitation_url = Rails.application.routes.url_helpers.accept_user_invitation_url(invitation_token: raw_token, host: request.base_url)
-      hash_of_short_urls = @volunteer.phone_number.blank? ? {0 => nil, 1 => nil} : handle_short_url([invitation_url, request.base_url + "/users/edit"])
-      body_msg = account_activation_msg("volunteer", hash_of_short_urls)
-      sms_status = deliver_sms_to @volunteer, body_msg
+      invitation_url = Rails.application.routes.url_helpers.accept_user_invitation_url(invitation_token: @volunteer.raw_invitation_token, host: request.base_url)
+
+      hash_of_short_urls = {0 => nil, 1 => nil}
+      if @volunteer.phone_number.present?
+        hash_of_short_urls = handle_short_url([invitation_url, request.base_url + "/users/edit"])
+      end
+
+      sms_status = deliver_sms_to @volunteer, account_activation_msg("volunteer", hash_of_short_urls)
       redirect_to edit_volunteer_path(@volunteer), notice: sms_acct_creation_notice("volunteer", sms_status)
     else
       render :new, status: :unprocessable_entity