diff --git a/cmd/bucket-replication-handlers.go b/cmd/bucket-replication-handlers.go
index 75edd0a19..7df242d30 100644
--- a/cmd/bucket-replication-handlers.go
+++ b/cmd/bucket-replication-handlers.go
@@ -276,7 +276,13 @@ func (api objectAPIHandlers) ResetBucketReplicationStartHandler(w http.ResponseW
 		writeErrorResponse(ctx, w, toAPIError(ctx, err), r.URL)
 		return
 	}
-	if !config.HasExistingObjectReplication(arn) {
+	hasARN, hasExistingObjEnabled := config.HasExistingObjectReplication(arn)
+	if !hasARN {
+		writeErrorResponse(ctx, w, errorCodes.ToAPIErr(ErrRemoteTargetNotFoundError), r.URL)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !hasExistingObjEnabled {
 		writeErrorResponse(ctx, w, errorCodes.ToAPIErr(ErrReplicationNoExistingObjects), r.URL)
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/internal/bucket/replication/replication.go b/internal/bucket/replication/replication.go
index 43954eba0..4e82267cb 100644
--- a/internal/bucket/replication/replication.go
+++ b/internal/bucket/replication/replication.go
@@ -162,15 +162,18 @@ type ObjectOpts struct {
 }
 
 // HasExistingObjectReplication returns true if any of the rule returns 'ExistingObjects' replication.
-func (c Config) HasExistingObjectReplication(arn string) bool {
+func (c Config) HasExistingObjectReplication(arn string) (hasARN, isEnabled bool) {
 	for _, rule := range c.Rules {
 		if rule.Destination.ARN == arn || c.RoleArn == arn {
+			if !hasARN {
+				hasARN = true
+			}
 			if rule.ExistingObjectReplication.Status == Enabled {
-				return true
+				return true, true
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	return false
+	return hasARN, false
 }
 
 // FilterActionableRules returns the rules actions that need to be executed