2 files changed, 7 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/src/luarocks/manif.lua b/src/luarocks/manif.lua
index c17da71e..d0bd5e04 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/manif.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/manif.lua
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ local function find_providers(file, root)
 
    local manifest, err = manif_core.load_local_manifest(path.rocks_dir(root))
    if not manifest then
-      return nil, err .. " -- corrupted local rocks tree?"
+      return nil, "untracked"
    end
    local deploy_bin = path.deploy_bin_dir(root)
    local deploy_lua = path.deploy_lua_dir(root)
diff --git a/src/luarocks/repos.lua b/src/luarocks/repos.lua
index c7b381df..23398cbb 100644
--- a/src/luarocks/repos.lua
+++ b/src/luarocks/repos.lua
@@ -214,7 +214,12 @@ function deploy_files(name, version, wrap_bin_scripts)
             if fs.exists(target) then
                local new_target, err = resolve_conflict(target, deploy_dir, name, version)
                if err == "untracked" then
-                  fs.delete(target)
+                  local backup = target
+                  repeat
+                     backup = target.."~"
+                  until not fs.exists(backup) -- slight race condition here, but shouldn't be a problem.
+                  util.printerr("Warning: "..target.." is not tracked by this installation of LuaRocks. Moving it to "..backup)
+                  fs.move(target, backup)
                elseif err then
                   return nil, err.." Cannot install new version."
                else