diff --git a/pkg/local_object_storage/shard/reload_test.go b/pkg/local_object_storage/shard/reload_test.go
index 7dacbfa6c..b43428ab7 100644
--- a/pkg/local_object_storage/shard/reload_test.go
+++ b/pkg/local_object_storage/shard/reload_test.go
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ func TestShardReload(t *testing.T) {
 
 		t.Run("reload failed", func(t *testing.T) {
 			badPath := filepath.Join(p, "meta3")
+			require.NoError(t, os.RemoveAll(badPath))
 			require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(badPath, []byte{1}, 0))
 
 			newOpts = newShardOpts(badPath, true)