diff --git a/playbooks/roles/borg-backup-server/files/verify-borg-backups.sh b/playbooks/roles/borg-backup-server/files/verify-borg-backups.sh
index 579f5294eb..d101ef656e 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/borg-backup-server/files/verify-borg-backups.sh
+++ b/playbooks/roles/borg-backup-server/files/verify-borg-backups.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,15 @@ export SHELL=/bin/bash
 pushd /opt/backups
 
 for u in borg-*; do
-    BORG_REPO=/opt/backups/$u/backup
+    BORG_BASE=/opt/backups/$u
+    BORG_REPO=${BORG_BASE}/backup
+    BORG_RETIRED=${BORG_BASE}/.retired
+
+    if [[ -f "${BORG_RETIRED}" ]] && [[ ! -d "${BORG_REPO}" ]]; then
+        # This repo was retired and purged. We don't need to verify it.
+        echo "$(date) Skipping ${BORG_REPO} it is retired and purged."
+        continue
+    fi
 
     sudo BORG_RELOCATED_REPO_ACCESS_IS_OK=y BORG_REPO=${BORG_REPO} -u ${u} -s  <<'EOF'