diff --git a/.ci/setup_cassandra.sh b/.ci/setup_cassandra.sh
index de57890592a6..6b81db4003b1 100644
--- a/.ci/setup_cassandra.sh
+++ b/.ci/setup_cassandra.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,18 @@
 
 CASSANDRA_BASE=apache-cassandra-$CASSANDRA_VERSION
 
-sudo rm -rf /var/lib/cassandra/*
-curl http://apache.arvixe.com/cassandra/$CASSANDRA_VERSION/$CASSANDRA_BASE-bin.tar.gz | tar xz
+n=0
+until [ $n -ge 5 ]
+do
+    sudo rm -rf /var/lib/cassandra/*
+    curl http://apache.arvixe.com/cassandra/$CASSANDRA_VERSION/$CASSANDRA_BASE-bin.tar.gz | tar xz && break
+    n=$[$n+1]
+    sleep 5
+done
+
+if [[ ! -f $CASSANDRA_BASE/bin/cassandra ]] ; then
+    echo 'Failed downloading and unpacking cassandra. Aborting.'
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 sudo sh $CASSANDRA_BASE/bin/cassandra