diff --git a/maxscale-system-test/mariadb_nodes.cpp b/maxscale-system-test/mariadb_nodes.cpp
index 020f76c6c..3e56cb644 100644
--- a/maxscale-system-test/mariadb_nodes.cpp
+++ b/maxscale-system-test/mariadb_nodes.cpp
@@ -1299,7 +1299,8 @@ void Mariadb_nodes::close_active_connections()
 
 void Mariadb_nodes::stash_server_settings(int node)
 {
-    ssh_node(node, "sudo mkdir /etc/my.cnf.d.backup", true);
+    ssh_node(node, "sudo rm -rf /etc/my.cnf.d.backup/", true);
+    ssh_node(node, "sudo mkdir /etc/my.cnf.d.backup/", true);
     ssh_node(node, "sudo cp -r /etc/my.cnf.d/* /etc/my.cnf.d.backup/", true);
 }