diff --git a/lib/core.js b/lib/core.js
index 2cd82bd..7c479a1 100644
--- a/lib/core.js
+++ b/lib/core.js
@@ -248,7 +248,12 @@ async function unsubscribePackageAnnoucements(packageAnnoucementsTopic) {
 }
 
 async function exportPackages(db) {
-  await ipfs.files.rm('/forage/export', { recursive: true })
+  try{
+    await ipfs.files.rm('/forage/export', { recursive: true })
+  } catch {
+    // no existing export folder
+  }
+
   await ipfs.files.mkdir('/forage/export', {parents: true})
 
   var loadpkgs = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {