diff --git a/devstack-vm-gate-wrap.sh b/devstack-vm-gate-wrap.sh
index 642c8041..1cd7c238 100755
--- a/devstack-vm-gate-wrap.sh
+++ b/devstack-vm-gate-wrap.sh
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ function setup_workspace {
 
     # The vm template update job should cache some images in ~/files.
     # Move them to where devstack expects:
-    if [ -e ~/cache/files/* ]; then
+    if [ "$(ls ~/cache/files/* 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
       rsync -a ~/cache/files/ $DEST/devstack/files/
     fi