diff --git a/lib/gitlab/backend/gitolite_config.rb b/lib/gitlab/backend/gitolite_config.rb
index f12c10ce01c..e4ebd595a93 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/backend/gitolite_config.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/backend/gitolite_config.rb
@@ -88,7 +88,10 @@ module Gitlab
     end
 
     def destroy_project(project)
-      FileUtils.rm_rf(project.repository.path_to_repo)
+      # do rm-rf only if repository exists
+      if project.repository
+        FileUtils.rm_rf(project.repository.path_to_repo)
+      end
       conf.rm_repo(project.path_with_namespace)
     end