diff --git a/utilities/backupable/backupable_db.cc b/utilities/backupable/backupable_db.cc
index 33c6874d4..2ce1e0490 100644
--- a/utilities/backupable/backupable_db.cc
+++ b/utilities/backupable/backupable_db.cc
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ Status BackupEngineImpl::Initialize() {
   {
     auto s = backup_env_->GetChildren(GetBackupMetaDir(), &backup_meta_files);
     if (!s.ok()) {
-      return s;
+      return Status::NotFound("%s not found", GetBackupMetaDir());
     }
   }
   // create backups_ structure