diff --git a/nova/tests/test_volume.py b/nova/tests/test_volume.py
index be589d3e2474..fca593c7c293 100644
--- a/nova/tests/test_volume.py
+++ b/nova/tests/test_volume.py
@@ -275,7 +275,27 @@ class VolumeTestCase(test.TestCase):
                           volume_api.delete,
                           self.context,
                           volume)
+        self.volume.delete_snapshot(self.context, snapshot_id)
+        self.volume.delete_volume(self.context, volume['id'])
 
+    def test_can_delete_errored_snapshot(self):
+        """Test snapshot can be created and deleted."""
+        volume = self._create_volume()
+        self.volume.create_volume(self.context, volume['id'])
+        snapshot_id = self._create_snapshot(volume['id'])
+        self.volume.create_snapshot(self.context, volume['id'], snapshot_id)
+        snapshot = db.snapshot_get(context.get_admin_context(),
+                                   snapshot_id)
+
+        volume_api = nova.volume.api.API()
+
+        snapshot['status'] = 'badstatus'
+        self.assertRaises(exception.InvalidVolume,
+                          volume_api.delete_snapshot,
+                          self.context,
+                          snapshot)
+
+        snapshot['status'] = 'error'
         self.volume.delete_snapshot(self.context, snapshot_id)
         self.volume.delete_volume(self.context, volume['id'])
 
diff --git a/nova/volume/api.py b/nova/volume/api.py
index 26d56c0578c3..76de55131ea0 100644
--- a/nova/volume/api.py
+++ b/nova/volume/api.py
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ class API(base.Base):
 
     @wrap_check_policy
     def delete_snapshot(self, context, snapshot):
-        if snapshot['status'] != "available":
-            msg = _("must be available")
+        if snapshot['status'] not in ["available", "error"]:
+            msg = _("Volume Snapshot status must be available or error")
             raise exception.InvalidVolume(reason=msg)
         self.db.snapshot_update(context, snapshot['id'],
                                 {'status': 'deleting'})