diff --git a/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js b/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js
index 829a2fea..e1019f24 100644
--- a/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js
+++ b/lib/cartodb/template_maps.js
@@ -291,6 +291,9 @@ o.delTemplate = function(owner, tpl_id, callback) {
     },
     function delCertificate(err, tplval) {
       if ( err ) throw err;
+      if ( ! tplval ) {
+        throw new Error("Template '" + tpl_id + "' of user '" + owner + "' does not exist"); 
+      }
       var tpl = JSON.parse(tplval);
       if ( ! tpl.auth_id ) {
         // not sure this is an error, in case we'll ever