diff --git a/gns3server/controller/project.py b/gns3server/controller/project.py
index 9522638d..6ce88470 100644
--- a/gns3server/controller/project.py
+++ b/gns3server/controller/project.py
@@ -564,7 +564,10 @@ class Project:
         if self._status == "opened":
             yield from self.close()
         yield from self.delete_on_computes()
-        shutil.rmtree(self.path)
+        try:
+            shutil.rmtree(self.path)
+        except OSError as e:
+            raise aiohttp.web.HTTPConflict(text="Can not delete project directory {}: {}".format(self.path, str(e)))
 
     @asyncio.coroutine
     def delete_on_computes(self):