diff --git a/builtin/providers/digitalocean/resource_digitalocean_droplet.go b/builtin/providers/digitalocean/resource_digitalocean_droplet.go
index daac43f09..36391f6d3 100644
--- a/builtin/providers/digitalocean/resource_digitalocean_droplet.go
+++ b/builtin/providers/digitalocean/resource_digitalocean_droplet.go
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ func resource_digitalocean_droplet_destroy(
 	err := client.DestroyDroplet(s.ID)
 
 	// Handle remotely destroyed droplets
-	if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "404 Not Found") {
+	if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "404 Not Found") {
 		return nil
 	}