diff --git a/lib/core/libimagstore/src/store.rs b/lib/core/libimagstore/src/store.rs
index e85b65f4..bc6d4d2e 100644
--- a/lib/core/libimagstore/src/store.rs
+++ b/lib/core/libimagstore/src/store.rs
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ impl Store {
                     // delete the filesystem file.
                     let pb = id.clone().into_pathbuf()?;
 
-                    if pb.exists() {
+                    if self.backend.exists(&pb)? {
                         // looks like we're deleting a not-loaded file from the store.
                         debug!("Seems like {:?} is on the FS", pb);
                         return self.backend.remove_file(&pb)