diff --git a/src/backupformat/rsync.js b/src/backupformat/rsync.js
index c0bccbdf3..8147a5d01 100644
--- a/src/backupformat/rsync.js
+++ b/src/backupformat/rsync.js
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ async function sync(backupConfig, remotePath, dataLayout, progressCallback) {
 
     const [delError] = await safe(async.eachLimit(changes.delQueue, concurrency, async (change) => await processSyncerChange(change, backupConfig, remotePath, dataLayout, progressCallback)));
     debug('sync: done processing deletes. error: %o', delError);
+    if (delError) throw delError;
 
     const [addError] = await safe(async.eachLimit(changes.addQueue, concurrency, async (change) => await processSyncerChange(change, backupConfig, remotePath, dataLayout, progressCallback)));
     debug('sync: done processing adds. error: %o', addError);