diff --git a/systemvm/patches/debian/config/opt/cloud/templates/check_heartbeat.sh.templ b/systemvm/patches/debian/config/opt/cloud/templates/check_heartbeat.sh.templ
index 051ee0386c9..2bfb7cd2fe2 100755
--- a/systemvm/patches/debian/config/opt/cloud/templates/check_heartbeat.sh.templ
+++ b/systemvm/patches/debian/config/opt/cloud/templates/check_heartbeat.sh.templ
@@ -35,7 +35,12 @@ then
         s=$(($s+1))
         echo $s > $STRIKE_FILE
     else
-        rm $STRIKE_FILE
+        if [ -e $STRIKE_FILE ]
+        then
+            rm $STRIKE_FILE
+        else
+            echo keepalived.strikes file does not exist! >> $ROUTER_LOG
+        fi
     fi
     #3 strikes rule
     if [ $s -gt 2 ]
diff --git a/systemvm/patches/debian/config/root/redundant_router/check_heartbeat.sh.templ b/systemvm/patches/debian/config/root/redundant_router/check_heartbeat.sh.templ
index d7d211ee57f..4253b291296 100755
--- a/systemvm/patches/debian/config/root/redundant_router/check_heartbeat.sh.templ
+++ b/systemvm/patches/debian/config/root/redundant_router/check_heartbeat.sh.templ
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
-
-STRIKE_FILE="[RROUTER_BIN_PATH]/keepalived.strikes"
+ROUTER_BIN_PATH=/ramdisk/rrouter
+STRIKE_FILE="$ROUTER_BIN_PATH/keepalived.strikes"
 
 if [ -e [RROUTER_BIN_PATH]/keepalived.ts2 ]
 then
@@ -34,7 +34,12 @@ then
         s=$(($s+1))
         echo $s > $STRIKE_FILE
     else
-        rm $STRIKE_FILE
+        if [ -e $STRIKE_FILE ]
+        then
+            rm $STRIKE_FILE
+        else
+            echo keepalived.strikes file does not exist! >> $ROUTER_LOG
+        fi
     fi
     #3 strikes rule
     if [ $s -gt 2 ]