diff --git a/utilities/backupable/backupable_db.cc b/utilities/backupable/backupable_db.cc
index 461894c06..36d033d9f 100644
--- a/utilities/backupable/backupable_db.cc
+++ b/utilities/backupable/backupable_db.cc
@@ -1468,8 +1468,13 @@ Status BackupEngineImpl::GarbageCollect() {
     // delete obsolete shared files
     std::vector<std::string> shared_children;
     {
-      auto s = backup_env_->GetChildren(GetAbsolutePath(GetSharedFileRel()),
-                                        &shared_children);
+      auto shared_path = GetAbsolutePath(GetSharedFileRel());
+      auto s = backup_env_->FileExists(shared_path);
+      if (s.ok()) {
+        s = backup_env_->GetChildren(shared_path, &shared_children);
+      } else if (s.IsNotFound()) {
+        s = Status::OK();
+      }
       if (!s.ok()) {
         return s;
       }
diff --git a/utilities/backupable/backupable_db_test.cc b/utilities/backupable/backupable_db_test.cc
index d79746a9f..b8394f2c0 100644
--- a/utilities/backupable/backupable_db_test.cc
+++ b/utilities/backupable/backupable_db_test.cc
@@ -1341,8 +1341,8 @@ TEST_F(BackupableDBTest, ChangeManifestDuringBackupCreation) {
 TEST_F(BackupableDBTest, Issue921Test) {
   BackupEngine* backup_engine;
   backupable_options_->share_table_files = false;
+  env_->CreateDirIfMissing(backupable_options_->backup_dir);
   backupable_options_->backup_dir += "/new_dir";
-
   ASSERT_OK(BackupEngine::Open(env_, *backupable_options_, &backup_engine));
 
   delete backup_engine;