Index: core.py
===================================================================
--- core.py	(Revision 4510)
+++ core.py	(Arbeitskopie)
@@ -1573,7 +1573,7 @@ def show_package_meta(apiurl, prj, pac):
         return f.readlines()
     except urllib2.HTTPError, e:
         e.osc_msg = 'Error getting meta for project \'%s\' package \'%s\'' % (prj, pac)
-        raise
+        raise oscerr.APIError(e.osc_msg)
 
 
 def show_develproject(apiurl, prj, pac):
Index: commandline.py
===================================================================
--- commandline.py	(Revision 4510)
+++ commandline.py	(Arbeitskopie)
@@ -521,17 +521,25 @@ class Osc(cmdln.Cmdln):
 
         # create
         if cmd == 'create':
-            devloc = show_develproject(apiurl, dst_project, dst_package)
-            if devloc \
-                    and dst_project != devloc \
-                    and src_project != devloc \
-                    and not opts.nodevelproject:
-                print """\
+            if not opts.nodevelproject:
+                devloc = None
+                try:
+                    devloc = show_develproject(apiurl, dst_project, dst_package)
+                except oscerr.APIError, e:
+                    print >>sys.stderr, """\
+Warning: failed to fetch meta data for '%s' package '%s' (new package?) """ \
+                        % (dst_project, dst_package)
+                    pass
+
+                if devloc \
+                      and dst_project != devloc \
+                      and src_project != devloc:
+                          print """\
 Sorry, but a different project, %s, is defined as the place where development
 of the package %s primarily takes place.
 Please submit there instead, or use --nodevelproject to force direct submission.""" \
                     % (devloc, dst_package)
-                sys.exit(1)
+                          sys.exit(1)
 
             result = create_submit_request(apiurl, 
                                           src_project, src_package,