diff --git a/addons/hr_work_entry/models/hr_work_entry.py b/addons/hr_work_entry/models/hr_work_entry.py
index 4484bb443cc..10f737315eb 100644
--- a/addons/hr_work_entry/models/hr_work_entry.py
+++ b/addons/hr_work_entry/models/hr_work_entry.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from dateutil.relativedelta import relativedelta
+from psycopg2 import OperationalError
 
 from odoo import api, fields, models
 
@@ -169,6 +170,11 @@ class HrWorkEntry(models.Model):
                 ])
                 work_entries._reset_conflicting_state()
             yield
+        except OperationalError:
+            # the cursor is dead, do not attempt to use it or we will shadow the root exception
+            # with a "psycopg2.InternalError: current transaction is aborted, ..."
+            skip = True
+            raise
         finally:
             if not skip and start and stop:
                 # New work entries are handled in the create method,