diff --git a/nova/cmd/manage.py b/nova/cmd/manage.py
index f871f6265a6c..f4b41d1f7b9d 100644
--- a/nova/cmd/manage.py
+++ b/nova/cmd/manage.py
@@ -1464,11 +1464,17 @@ class CellV2Commands(object):
     def delete_cell(self, cell_uuid):
         """Delete an empty cell by the given uuid.
 
+        If the cell is cell0 this command will return a non-zero exit code.
+
         If the cell is not found by uuid or it is not empty (it has host or
         instance mappings) this command will return a non-zero exit code.
 
         Returns 0 if the empty cell is found and deleted successfully.
         """
+        if cell_uuid == objects.CellMapping.CELL0_UUID:
+            print(_('Cell 0 can not be deleted.'))
+            return 5
+
         ctxt = context.get_admin_context()
         # Find the CellMapping given the uuid.
         try:
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/test_nova_manage.py b/nova/tests/unit/test_nova_manage.py
index 1af65f5df426..75f6a84118de 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/test_nova_manage.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/test_nova_manage.py
@@ -1484,6 +1484,12 @@ class CellV2CommandsTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.assertEqual('Cell with uuid %s was not found.' % cell_uuid,
                          output)
 
+    def test_delete_cell_cell0(self):
+        cell_uuid = objects.CellMapping.CELL0_UUID
+        self.assertEqual(5, self.commands.delete_cell(cell_uuid))
+        output = self.output.getvalue().strip()
+        self.assertEqual('Cell 0 can not be deleted.', output)
+
     def test_delete_cell_host_mappings_exist(self):
         """Tests trying to delete a cell which has host mappings."""
         cell_uuid = uuidutils.generate_uuid()