diff --git a/src/apptask.js b/src/apptask.js
index 3dbba2eee..b17001fc8 100644
--- a/src/apptask.js
+++ b/src/apptask.js
@@ -331,7 +331,8 @@ async function uninstallCommand(app, args, progressCallback) {
     await deleteContainers(app, {});
 
     await progressCallback({ percent: 30, message: 'Teardown addons' });
-    await services.teardownAddons(app, app.manifest.addons);
+    // if install/clone/restore/import failed early (e.g. invalid image), services may not have started
+    await safe(services.teardownAddons(app, app.manifest.addons), { debug: log });
     await services.teardownPersistentDirs(app);
 
     await progressCallback({ percent: 40, message: 'Cleanup file manager' });