diff --git a/fhir-bulkdata-webapp/src/main/java/com/ibm/fhir/bulkdata/provider/impl/S3Provider.java b/fhir-bulkdata-webapp/src/main/java/com/ibm/fhir/bulkdata/provider/impl/S3Provider.java
index d590cd0c04c..45d2249052b 100644
--- a/fhir-bulkdata-webapp/src/main/java/com/ibm/fhir/bulkdata/provider/impl/S3Provider.java
+++ b/fhir-bulkdata-webapp/src/main/java/com/ibm/fhir/bulkdata/provider/impl/S3Provider.java
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public S3Provider(String source) throws FHIRException {
 
         String cosLocation = adapter.getStorageProviderLocation(source);
         String cosEndpointUrl = adapter.getStorageProviderEndpointInternal(source);
-        String bucketName = adapter.getStorageProviderBucketName(source);
+        bucketName = adapter.getStorageProviderBucketName(source);
 
         boolean iam = adapter.isStorageProviderAuthTypeIam(source);
         isExportPublic = adapter.isStorageProviderExportPublic(source);
@@ -169,12 +169,19 @@ private static AmazonS3 getClient(boolean iam, String cosApiKeyProperty, String
      * checks to see if the bucket exists.
      *
      * @return
+     * @implNote to maintain the exists method behavior, we're only checking the client exists or does not  (true  or false), and warning if the bucket is not found as the S3 client does not do an exists properly when using a doesBucketExistV2 when using a vanity url to access the service on AWS.
      */
     public boolean exists() {
-        boolean ex = client != null && client.doesBucketExistV2(bucketName);
-        if (ex == false) {
+        boolean ex = client != null;
+
+        // We only want to log a warning here, and assume it's true if the client exists.
+        // In certain circumstances, a direct url to the bucket can be used. https://mybucketdemo123.s3.us.east-2.amazonaws.com
+        // versus an API enabled url e.g. https://s3.us.east-2.amazonaws.com
+        // These end up with TWO different responses, the former is false, and the latter is true.
+        if (!ex || !client.doesBucketExistV2(bucketName)) {
             logger.warning("Bucket '" + bucketName + "' not found! Client [" + (client != null) + "]");
         }
+
         return ex;
     }