diff --git a/pbs-datastore/src/snapshot_reader.rs b/pbs-datastore/src/snapshot_reader.rs
index 899c3bce..ec7a48e5 100644
--- a/pbs-datastore/src/snapshot_reader.rs
+++ b/pbs-datastore/src/snapshot_reader.rs
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ impl SnapshotReader {
         let datastore = snapshot.datastore();
         let snapshot_path = snapshot.full_path();
 
+        if !snapshot_path.exists() {
+            bail!("snapshot {} does not exist!", snapshot.dir());
+        }
+
         let locked_dir =
             lock_dir_noblock_shared(&snapshot_path, "snapshot", "locked by another operation")?;
 
diff --git a/src/api2/reader/mod.rs b/src/api2/reader/mod.rs
index e2a10da3..1ac4ac40 100644
--- a/src/api2/reader/mod.rs
+++ b/src/api2/reader/mod.rs
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@ fn upgrade_to_backup_reader_protocol(
             }
         }
 
+        if !backup_dir.full_path().exists() {
+            bail!("snapshot {} does not exist.", backup_dir.dir());
+        }
+
         let _guard = lock_dir_noblock_shared(
             &backup_dir.full_path(),
             "snapshot",