diff --git a/acls.c b/acls.c
--- a/acls.c
+++ b/acls.c
@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ static int set_rsync_acl(const char *fname, acl_duo *duo_item,
 		else
 #endif
 			rc = sys_acl_delete_def_file(fname);
-		if (rc < 0) {
+		if (rc < 0 && errno != ENODATA) {
 			rsyserr(FERROR_XFER, errno, "set_acl: sys_acl_delete_def_file(%s)",
 				fname);
 			return -1;
-- 
1.7.1