diff --git a/nerfstudio/process_data/process_data_utils.py b/nerfstudio/process_data/process_data_utils.py
index 75878d6a5..7fc0f6f76 100644
--- a/nerfstudio/process_data/process_data_utils.py
+++ b/nerfstudio/process_data/process_data_utils.py
@@ -145,13 +145,6 @@ def convert_video_to_images(
         A tuple containing summary of the conversion and the number of extracted frames.
     """
 
-    # If keep_image_dir is False, then remove the output image directory and its downscaled versions
-    if not keep_image_dir:
-        for i in range(num_downscales + 1):
-            dir_to_remove = image_dir if i == 0 else f"{image_dir}_{2**i}"
-            shutil.rmtree(dir_to_remove, ignore_errors=True)
-    image_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
-
     for i in crop_factor:
         if i < 0 or i > 1:
             CONSOLE.print("[bold red]Error: Invalid crop factor. All crops must be in [0,1].")
@@ -171,6 +164,13 @@ def convert_video_to_images(
             sys.exit(1)
         CONSOLE.print("Number of frames in video:", num_frames)
 
+        # If keep_image_dir is False, then remove the output image directory and its downscaled versions
+        if not keep_image_dir:
+            for i in range(num_downscales + 1):
+                dir_to_remove = image_dir if i == 0 else f"{image_dir}_{2**i}"
+                shutil.rmtree(dir_to_remove, ignore_errors=True)
+        image_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
+
         ffmpeg_cmd = f'ffmpeg -i "{video_path}"'
 
         crop_cmd = ""
diff --git a/tests/process_data/test_video_input_validation.py b/tests/process_data/test_video_input_validation.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6e46aaad2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/process_data/test_video_input_validation.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest import mock
+
+import pytest
+
+from nerfstudio.process_data.process_data_utils import convert_video_to_images
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("empty_video", [False, True])
+def test_invalid_video_preserves_existing_frames(tmp_path: Path, empty_video: bool):
+    image_dir = tmp_path / "images"
+    old_frames = [directory / "frame_00001.png" for directory in (image_dir, tmp_path / "images_2")]
+    for frame in old_frames:
+        frame.parent.mkdir()
+        frame.write_bytes(b"previous frame")
+    video = tmp_path / "capture.mp4"
+    if empty_video:
+        video.touch()
+
+    with mock.patch("nerfstudio.process_data.process_data_utils.get_num_frames_in_video", return_value=0):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+            convert_video_to_images(video, image_dir, num_frames_target=3, num_downscales=1)
+
+    assert all(frame.read_bytes() == b"previous frame" for frame in old_frames)