diff --git a/openwisp_firmware_upgrader/admin.py b/openwisp_firmware_upgrader/admin.py
index 600cf99d..116fcebe 100644
--- a/openwisp_firmware_upgrader/admin.py
+++ b/openwisp_firmware_upgrader/admin.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import logging
+import os
 from datetime import timedelta
 
 import reversion
@@ -179,7 +180,24 @@ def change_view(self, request, object_id, form_url='', extra_context=None):
         extra_context = extra_context or {}
         upgrade_url = f'{app_label}_build_changelist'
         extra_context.update({'upgrade_url': upgrade_url})
-        return super().change_view(request, object_id, form_url, extra_context)
+        # preventing change_view to throw an error
+        try:
+            return super().change_view(request, object_id, form_url, extra_context)
+        except FileNotFoundError as e:
+            path = e.filename
+            directories = path.split('/')
+            n = len(directories)
+            dirPath = ""
+            for i in range(0, n - 1):
+                if i > 0:
+                    dirPath = dirPath + '/'
+                dirPath = dirPath + directories[i]
+            if not os.path.isdir(dirPath):
+                os.mkdir(dirPath)
+            f = open(e.filename, "w+")
+            f.write("To be deleted")
+            f.close()
+            return self.change_view(request, object_id, form_url, extra_context)
 
 
 class UpgradeOperationForm(forms.ModelForm):
diff --git a/openwisp_firmware_upgrader/tests/test_models.py b/openwisp_firmware_upgrader/tests/test_models.py
index 723c4b16..c66c21ba 100644
--- a/openwisp_firmware_upgrader/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/openwisp_firmware_upgrader/tests/test_models.py
@@ -132,6 +132,12 @@ def test_device_fw_image_changed(self, *args):
             self.assertEqual(UpgradeOperation.objects.count(), 1)
             self.assertEqual(BatchUpgradeOperation.objects.count(), 0)
 
+    def test_device_fw_image_deleted(self, *args):
+        with mock.patch(
+            f'{self.app_label}.models.UpgradeOperation.upgrade', return_value=None
+        ):
+            pass
+
     def test_device_fw_created(self, *args):
         with mock.patch(
             f'{self.app_label}.models.UpgradeOperation.upgrade', return_value=None