diff --git a/solr/CHANGES.txt b/solr/CHANGES.txt
index 0131b7bbb8b..0ee18ba0f87 100644
--- a/solr/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/solr/CHANGES.txt
@@ -353,6 +353,9 @@ Bug Fixes
   and CloudMLTQParser included extra strings from the field definitions in the query.
   (Ere Maijala via Anshum Gupta)
 
+* SOLR-9954: Prevent against failure during failed snapshot cleanup from swallowing the actual cause
+  for the snapshot to fail. (thelabdude)
+
 Other Changes
 ----------------------
 
diff --git a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/handler/SnapShooter.java b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/handler/SnapShooter.java
index bf02e4c33c5..a6e811048eb 100644
--- a/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/handler/SnapShooter.java
+++ b/solr/core/src/java/org/apache/solr/handler/SnapShooter.java
@@ -231,7 +231,11 @@ public class SnapShooter {
       return details;
     } finally {
       if (!success) {
-        backupRepo.deleteDirectory(snapshotDirPath);
+        try {
+          backupRepo.deleteDirectory(snapshotDirPath);
+        } catch (Exception excDuringDelete) {
+          LOG.warn("Failed to delete "+snapshotDirPath+" after snapshot creation failed due to: "+excDuringDelete);
+        }
       }
     }
   }