diff --git a/bob/bio/base/tools/preprocessor.py b/bob/bio/base/tools/preprocessor.py
index 92f8c387e3932db387144bc48c1c226c1b9dc9f3..1f7374cf98a3d9135035eabfb76fd140491094d2 100644
--- a/bob/bio/base/tools/preprocessor.py
+++ b/bob/bio/base/tools/preprocessor.py
@@ -69,14 +69,6 @@ def preprocess(preprocessor, groups = None, indices = None, allow_missing_files
                             preprocessor.min_preprocessed_file_size):
       logger.debug("... Processing original data file '%s'", file_name)
 
-      # Maybe we have missing file in the databse
-      if not os.path.exists(file_name):
-        if allow_missing_files:
-          logger.debug("... Original data file is missing '%s' and will be skipped", file_name)
-          continue
-        else:
-          raise RuntimeError("Original data file is missing '%s' " % file_name)
-      
       data = preprocessor.read_original_data(file_object, original_directory, original_extension)
       # create output directory before reading the data file (is sometimes required, when relative directories are specified, especially, including a .. somewhere)
       bob.io.base.create_directories_safe(os.path.dirname(preprocessed_data_file))