diff --git a/handlers/rsync.in b/handlers/rsync.in
index cb728868ad9206a52a4735cec91764c4f6d3f50c..6fcda05e491899016333f2a7665aca3e28f8a643 100644
--- a/handlers/rsync.in
+++ b/handlers/rsync.in
@@ -391,7 +391,8 @@ function rotate_long {
   local metadata
 
   if [ ! -d "$backuproot" ]; then
-    fatal "Skipping rotate of $backuproot as it doesn't exist."
+    warning "Skipping rotate of $backuproot as it doesn't exist."
+    return
   fi
 
   for rottype in daily weekly monthly; do