diff --git a/handlers/rsync.in b/handlers/rsync.in
index 76aca7cd7086c91c5043a7ae057111c8571ceb4e..c5c7cac460c730c65f6b136464628be89d2fb67a 100644
--- a/handlers/rsync.in
+++ b/handlers/rsync.in
@@ -387,8 +387,8 @@ function rotate_long {
   local metadata
 
   if [ ! -d "$backuproot" ]; then
-    echo "Debug: skipping rotate of $backuproot as it doesn't exist."
-    exit
+    warning "Skipping rotate of $backuproot as it doesn't exist."
+    return
   fi
 
   for rottype in daily weekly monthly; do
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ function rotate_long_remote {
   now=\`date +%s\`
 
   if [ ! -d "$backuproot" ]; then
-    echo "Debug: skipping rotate of $backuproot as it doesn't exist."
+    echo "Fatal: skipping rotate of $backuproot as it doesn't exist."
     exit
   fi