diff --git a/libra/common/exc.py b/libra/common/exc.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e7f5d2d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libra/common/exc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Copyright 2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+
+class DeletedStateError(Exception):
+    """
+    Exception representing an invalid operation on a load balancer that
+    is in the deleted state.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, value):
+        self.value = value
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return repr(self.value)
diff --git a/libra/worker/controller.py b/libra/worker/controller.py
index 030fdfc0..9edab3c0 100644
--- a/libra/worker/controller.py
+++ b/libra/worker/controller.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
 from libra import __version__ as libra_version
 from libra import __release__ as libra_release
+from libra.common.exc import DeletedStateError
 from libra.common.faults import BadRequest
 from libra.worker.drivers.base import LoadBalancerDriver
 
@@ -337,7 +338,14 @@ class LBaaSController(object):
         return self.msg
 
     def _action_stats(self):
-        """ Get load balancer statistics. """
+        """
+        Get load balancer statistics.
+
+        We push responsibility for knowing what state a load balancer
+        current is in to the driver. Trying to get statistics for a LB that
+        has been deleted is an error.
+        """
+
         try:
             # TODO: Do something with the returned statistics
             self.driver.get_stats(protocol=None)
@@ -346,6 +354,10 @@ class LBaaSController(object):
             self.logger.error(error)
             self.msg[self.RESPONSE_FIELD] = self.RESPONSE_FAILURE
             self.msg[self.ERROR_FIELD] = error
+        except DeletedStateError:
+            self.logger.info("Invalid operation STATS on a deleted LB")
+            self.msg['status'] = 'DELETED'
+            self.msg[self.RESPONSE_FIELD] = self.RESPONSE_FAILURE
         except Exception as e:
             self.logger.error("STATS failed: %s, %s" % (e.__class__, e))
             self.msg[self.RESPONSE_FIELD] = self.RESPONSE_FAILURE
diff --git a/libra/worker/drivers/haproxy/ubuntu_services.py b/libra/worker/drivers/haproxy/ubuntu_services.py
index 4826adb2..267381e5 100644
--- a/libra/worker/drivers/haproxy/ubuntu_services.py
+++ b/libra/worker/drivers/haproxy/ubuntu_services.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import os
 import subprocess
 
+from libra.common.exc import DeletedStateError
 from libra.common.lbstats import LBStatistics
 from libra.worker.drivers.haproxy.services_base import ServicesBase
 from libra.worker.drivers.haproxy.query import HAProxyQuery
@@ -146,6 +147,8 @@ class UbuntuServices(ServicesBase):
         http://cbonte.github.com/haproxy-dconv/configuration-1.4.html#9
         """
 
+        if not os.path.exists(self._config_file):
+            raise DeletedStateError("Load balancer is deleted.")
         if not os.path.exists(self._haproxy_pid):
             raise Exception("HAProxy is not running.")