diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
index ef68d21cd8e..203d61df61a 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
@@ -4552,7 +4552,7 @@ util::Result<MigrationResult> MigrateLegacyToDescriptor(std::shared_ptr<CWallet>
             success = reload_wallet(res.solvables_wallet);
         }
     }
-    if (!success) {
+    if (!success && !in_memory) {
         // Migration failed, cleanup
         // Before deleting the wallet's directory, copy the backup file to the top-level wallets dir
         fs::path temp_backup_location = fsbridge::AbsPathJoin(GetWalletDir(), backup_filename);