diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/avm/AVMSyncServiceImpl.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/avm/AVMSyncServiceImpl.java
index 16c85ede55..777c9d7672 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/avm/AVMSyncServiceImpl.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/avm/AVMSyncServiceImpl.java
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ public class AVMSyncServiceImpl implements AVMSyncService
         // The underlying thing must be a directory.
         if (!underlying.isDirectory())
         {
-            throw new AVMWrongTypeException("Underlying is not a directory: " + underlying);
+            return false;
         }
         Map<String, AVMNodeDescriptor> layerListing =
             fAVMService.getDirectoryListingDirect(-1, layer.getPath(), true);