diff --git a/src/caosdb/common/models.py b/src/caosdb/common/models.py
index 57b07bd6f83cf2dd4d0523a70308ee189a96a995..23fe2e2d81c12b7ca9efb23e02ce381122a41ac1 100644
--- a/src/caosdb/common/models.py
+++ b/src/caosdb/common/models.py
@@ -3006,7 +3006,8 @@ class Container(list):
 
                 if len(chunk):
                     chunk.delete()
-            dependencies_delete.delete()
+            if len(dependencies_delete):
+                dependencies_delete.delete()
 
             return self