diff --git a/internal/libraries/repoclone.go b/internal/libraries/repoclone.go
index 8b804578..0e8c64dd 100644
--- a/internal/libraries/repoclone.go
+++ b/internal/libraries/repoclone.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/arduino/go-paths-helper"
 	"github.com/arduino/libraries-repository-engine/internal/backup"
 	"github.com/arduino/libraries-repository-engine/internal/configuration"
+	"github.com/arduino/libraries-repository-engine/internal/feedback"
 	"github.com/arduino/libraries-repository-engine/internal/libraries/db"
 
 	"fmt"
@@ -145,12 +146,21 @@ func BackupAndDeleteGitClone(config *configuration.Config, repoMeta *Repo) error
 		return err
 	}
 	gitClonePath := paths.New(config.GitClonesFolder, gitCloneSubfolder)
-
-	if err := backup.Backup(gitClonePath); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("While backing up library's Git clone: %w", err)
+	// The library's clone folder may be removed by the sync process under expected circumstances.
+	// So its absence does not necessarily imply a problem.
+	gitClonePathExists, err := gitClonePath.ExistCheck()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
-	if err := gitClonePath.RemoveAll(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("While removing library Git clone: %s", err)
+	if gitClonePathExists {
+		if err := backup.Backup(gitClonePath); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("While backing up library's Git clone: %w", err)
+		}
+		if err := gitClonePath.RemoveAll(); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("While removing library Git clone: %s", err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		feedback.Warningf("Library Git clone folder %s not present", gitClonePath)
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/internal/libraries/repoclone_test.go b/internal/libraries/repoclone_test.go
index a2b77b6c..193e40d3 100644
--- a/internal/libraries/repoclone_test.go
+++ b/internal/libraries/repoclone_test.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func TestBackupAndDeleteGitClone(t *testing.T) {
 		URL: "https://github.com/Foo/Bar.git",
 	}
 
-	assert.Error(t, BackupAndDeleteGitClone(&config, &repoMeta), "Error if library clone folder did not exist.")
+	assert.Nil(t, BackupAndDeleteGitClone(&config, &repoMeta), "Return nil if library clone folder did not exist.")
 
 	gitCloneSubfolder, err := repoMeta.AsFolder()
 	require.NoError(t, err)