diff --git a/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_validators.py b/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_validators.py
index fd2572f0738..a534d8cf5dc 100644
--- a/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_validators.py
+++ b/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/vm/_validators.py
@@ -254,14 +254,18 @@ def _parse_image_argument(cmd, namespace):
 
     # 4 - attempt to match an URN alias (most likely)
     from azure.cli.command_modules.vm._actions import load_images_from_aliases_doc
-    images = load_images_from_aliases_doc(cmd.cli_ctx)
-    matched = next((x for x in images if x['urnAlias'].lower() == namespace.image.lower()), None)
-    if matched:
-        namespace.os_publisher = matched['publisher']
-        namespace.os_offer = matched['offer']
-        namespace.os_sku = matched['sku']
-        namespace.os_version = matched['version']
-        return 'urn'
+    import requests
+    try:
+        images = load_images_from_aliases_doc(cmd.cli_ctx)
+        matched = next((x for x in images if x['urnAlias'].lower() == namespace.image.lower()), None)
+        if matched:
+            namespace.os_publisher = matched['publisher']
+            namespace.os_offer = matched['offer']
+            namespace.os_sku = matched['sku']
+            namespace.os_version = matched['version']
+            return 'urn'
+    except requests.exceptions.ConnectionError:
+        pass
 
     # 5 - check if an existing managed disk image resource
     compute_client = _compute_client_factory(cmd.cli_ctx)
@@ -271,9 +275,15 @@ def _parse_image_argument(cmd, namespace):
                                            'images', 'Microsoft.Compute')
         return 'image_id'
     except CloudError:
-        err = 'Invalid image "{}". Use a valid image URN, custom image name, custom image id, VHD blob URI, or ' \
-              'pick an image from {}.\nSee vm create -h for more information on specifying an image.'
-        raise CLIError(err.format(namespace.image, [x['urnAlias'] for x in images]))
+        if images is not None:
+            err = 'Invalid image "{}". Use a valid image URN, custom image name, custom image id, ' \
+                  'VHD blob URI, or pick an image from {}.\nSee vm create -h for more information ' \
+                  'on specifying an image.'.format(namespace.image, [x['urnAlias'] for x in images])
+        else:
+            err = 'Failed to connect to remote source of image aliases. Invalid image "{}". Use a ' \
+                  'valid image URN, custom image name, custom image id, or VHD blob URI.\nSee vm ' \
+                  'create -h for more information on specifying an image.'.format(namespace.image)
+        raise CLIError(err)
 
 
 def _get_image_plan_info_if_exists(cmd, namespace):