diff --git a/debug/org.eclipse.debug.core/core/org/eclipse/debug/core/Launch.java b/debug/org.eclipse.debug.core/core/org/eclipse/debug/core/Launch.java
index e63150a30a9..ea094c098dc 100644
--- a/debug/org.eclipse.debug.core/core/org/eclipse/debug/core/Launch.java
+++ b/debug/org.eclipse.debug.core/core/org/eclipse/debug/core/Launch.java
@@ -494,7 +494,9 @@ protected void fireTerminate() {
 					prefs.flush();
 				}
 			} catch (CoreException | BackingStoreException e) {
-				DebugPlugin.log(e);
+				if (launchConfig.exists()) {
+					DebugPlugin.log(e);
+				}
 			}
 		}
 		if (!fSuppressChange) {