Index: src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/util/FSUtils.java =================================================================== --- src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/util/FSUtils.java (revision 1180081) +++ src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/util/FSUtils.java (working copy) @@ -1067,7 +1067,7 @@ // hole. Need to fix. try { if (forceCreation) { - if (!fs.delete(tableInfoPath, false)) { + if (fs.exists(tableInfoPath) && !fs.delete(tableInfoPath, false)) { String errMsg = "Unable to delete " + tableInfoPath + " while forcefully writing the table descriptor."; LOG.error(errMsg);