diff --git a/src/drf_yasg/inspectors/field.py b/src/drf_yasg/inspectors/field.py
index 18a185b..a1cc65d 100644
--- a/src/drf_yasg/inspectors/field.py
+++ b/src/drf_yasg/inspectors/field.py
@@ -262,7 +262,12 @@ def find_regex(regex_field):
             regex_validator = validator
 
     # regex_validator.regex should be a compiled re object...
-    pattern = getattr(getattr(regex_validator, 'regex', None), 'pattern', None)
+    try:
+        pattern = getattr(getattr(regex_validator, 'regex', None), 'pattern', None)
+    except Exception:  # pragma: no cover
+        logger.warning('failed to compile regex validator of ' + str(regex_field), exc_info=True)
+        return None
+
     if pattern:
         # attempt some basic cleanup to remove regex constructs not supported by JavaScript
         #  -- swagger uses javascript-style regexes - see https://github.com/swagger-api/swagger-editor/issues/1601