diff --git a/daemon/libnetwork/drivers/bridge/internal/nftabler/cleaner.go b/daemon/libnetwork/drivers/bridge/internal/nftabler/cleaner.go
index c57c36d654..94aa9cefe4 100644
--- a/daemon/libnetwork/drivers/bridge/internal/nftabler/cleaner.go
+++ b/daemon/libnetwork/drivers/bridge/internal/nftabler/cleaner.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 package nftabler
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"os/exec"
 
@@ -16,21 +17,28 @@ import (
 // after switching to a different Firewaller implementation.
 func Cleanup(ctx context.Context, config firewaller.Config) {
 	if config.IPv4 {
-		if err := exec.Command("nft", "delete", "table", string(nftables.IPv4), dockerTable).Run(); err != nil {
-			log.G(ctx).WithError(err).Info("Deleting nftables IPv4 rules")
-		} else {
-			log.G(ctx).Info("Deleted nftables IPv4 rules")
-		}
+		tryCleanup(ctx, nftables.IPv4, "IPv4")
 	}
 	if config.IPv6 {
-		if err := exec.Command("nft", "delete", "table", string(nftables.IPv6), dockerTable).Run(); err != nil {
-			log.G(ctx).WithError(err).Info("Deleting nftables IPv6 rules")
-		} else {
-			log.G(ctx).Info("Deleted nftables IPv6 rules")
-		}
+		tryCleanup(ctx, nftables.IPv6, "IPv6")
 	}
 }
 
+func tryCleanup(ctx context.Context, family nftables.Family, label string) {
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "nft", "delete", "table", string(family), dockerTable)
+	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		// May not exist ("Error: Could not process rule: No such file or directory")
+		log.G(ctx).WithFields(log.Fields{
+			"error":  err,
+			"output": string(bytes.TrimRight(out, "\n ^")), // remove "^^^^^" added in nft's error message.
+		}).Info("Deleting nftables " + label + " rules")
+		return
+	}
+
+	log.G(ctx).Info("Deleted nftables " + label + " rules")
+}
+
 func (nft *Nftabler) SetFirewallCleaner(fc firewaller.FirewallCleaner) {
 	nft.cleaner = fc
 }