diff --git a/scotests/scointeractive.sh b/scotests/scointeractive.sh
index 38bf8dfac..2cecaf90c 100755
--- a/scotests/scointeractive.sh
+++ b/scotests/scointeractive.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ usage() {
 
 set -euo pipefail
 cd /opt/scodoc/Products/ScoDoc || exit 2
+source config/config.sh
 source config/utils.sh
 
 if [ $# -lt 1 ]
@@ -38,7 +39,11 @@ shift
 
 if [ "$recreate_dept" = 1 ]
 then
-    (cd config || terminate "no config directory"; ./delete_dept.sh -n "$DEPT") || terminate "error deleting dept $DEPT"
+    cfg_pathname="${SCODOC_VAR_DIR}/config/depts/$DEPT".cfg
+    if [ -e "$cfg_pathname" ]
+    then
+        (cd config || terminate "no config directory"; ./delete_dept.sh -n "$DEPT") || terminate "error deleting dept $DEPT"
+    fi
     (cd config || terminate "no config directory"; ./create_dept.sh -n "$DEPT") || terminate "error creating dept $DEPT"
     # systemctl start scodoc
 fi