diff --git a/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir.go b/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir.go
index 8c660f70a..f7b1b0e39 100644
--- a/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir.go
+++ b/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir.go
@@ -247,9 +247,11 @@ func processDeleteEvent(
 		// The object at the key may have been replaced since the delete: a
 		// rename copies another entry's content onto it, a rewrite uploads
 		// over it. Match the recorded etag before deleting so only the
-		// object the delete meant goes away. A changed object with no entry
-		// at the path is an upload that finished after the delete, and goes.
-		if oldETag := message.OldEntry.GetRemoteEntry().GetRemoteETag(); oldETag != "" && current != nil {
+		// object the delete meant goes away. That holds with no entry at the
+		// path too: a rename copies before its new entry becomes visible. An
+		// upload that finished after the delete is kept the same way, which
+		// leaks that object rather than risking the only copy of a rename.
+		if oldETag := message.OldEntry.GetRemoteEntry().GetRemoteETag(); oldETag != "" {
 			if live, err := client.StatFile(dest); err == nil {
 				if live.RemoteETag != "" && live.RemoteETag != oldETag {
 					glog.V(0).Infof("keep %s: the object changed since the delete", remote_storage.FormatLocation(dest))
diff --git a/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir_test.go b/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir_test.go
index ba1e09122..ae9d7f7e5 100644
--- a/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir_test.go
+++ b/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir_test.go
@@ -1053,17 +1053,17 @@ func TestDeleteEventAbsentRemoteObjectIsSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 
-	t.Run("a changed object with no entry at the path still goes", func(t *testing.T) {
-		// an upload that finished after the delete leaves a newer object that
-		// no entry describes; keeping it would leave it on the remote forever
+	t.Run("a changed object with no entry at the path yet is kept", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// a directory rename copies a child onto the key before its new entry
+		// becomes visible; the copy may be the content's only remaining home
 		deleted := proto.Clone(resp).(*filer_pb.SubscribeMetadataResponse)
 		deleted.EventNotification.OldEntry.RemoteEntry = &filer_pb.RemoteEntry{RemoteETag: `"orig"`, RemoteSize: 10}
-		remote := &recordingRemote{objects: map[string][]byte{"/b/vol/state.db.tmp": []byte("late")}, statETag: `"late"`}
+		remote := &recordingRemote{objects: map[string][]byte{"/b/vol/state.db.tmp": []byte("copied")}, statETag: `"copy"`}
 		if err := processDeleteEvent(&stubFilerClient{}, remote, mountedDir, mountLoc, deleted); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("err = %v", err)
 		}
-		if len(remote.deletes) != 1 {
-			t.Errorf("deletes = %+v, want one", remote.deletes)
+		if len(remote.deletes) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("deletes = %+v, want none", remote.deletes)
 		}
 	})