diff --git a/cgi-bin/webnotes/model/__init__.py b/cgi-bin/webnotes/model/__init__.py
index 2fc0da731c..0cbbb90fad 100644
--- a/cgi-bin/webnotes/model/__init__.py
+++ b/cgi-bin/webnotes/model/__init__.py
@@ -26,7 +26,12 @@ def check_if_doc_is_linked(dt, dn):
 				webnotes.msgprint("Cannot delete %s <b>%s</b> because it is linked in <b>%s</b>" % (dt, dn, item[0][0]), raise_exception=1)
 			
 		else:
-			item = sql("select name from `tab%s` where `%s`='%s' and docstatus!=2 limit 1" % (link_dt, link_field, dn))
+			item = None
+			try:
+				item = sql("select name from `tab%s` where `%s`='%s' and docstatus!=2 limit 1" % (link_dt, link_field, dn))
+			except Exception, e:
+				if e.args[0]==1146: pass
+				else: raise e
 			if item:
 				webnotes.msgprint("Cannot delete %s <b>%s</b> because it is linked in %s <b>%s</b>" % (dt, dn, link_dt, item[0][0]), raise_exception=1)