diff --git a/libnetwork/sandbox.go b/libnetwork/sandbox.go
index c820cc04e9..d9c846c0a5 100644
--- a/libnetwork/sandbox.go
+++ b/libnetwork/sandbox.go
@@ -626,6 +626,10 @@ func (sb *sandbox) SetKey(basePath string) error {
 	}
 
 	sb.Lock()
+	if sb.inDelete {
+		sb.Unlock()
+		return types.ForbiddenErrorf("failed to SetKey: sandbox %q delete in progress", sb.id)
+	}
 	oldosSbox := sb.osSbox
 	sb.Unlock()