diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 181df10..9bcb6cf 100755
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2.0.3-dev245
+2.0.3-dev246
diff --git a/internal/pkg/core/openonu.go b/internal/pkg/core/openonu.go
index 230b7c5..1afc7c7 100755
--- a/internal/pkg/core/openonu.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/core/openonu.go
@@ -947,9 +947,11 @@
 		if err := handler.handleDeleteGemPortRequest(log.WithSpanFromContext(context.Background(), ctx), gPort); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		return &empty.Empty{}, nil
+	} else {
+		logger.Debugw(ctx, "deviceHandler not found", log.Fields{"device-id": gPort.DeviceId})
+		// delete requests for objects of an already deleted ONU should be acknowledged positively - continue
 	}
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("handler-not-found-%s", gPort.DeviceId))
+	return &empty.Empty{}, nil
 }
 
 // DeleteTCont is part of the ONU Inter-adapter service API.
@@ -960,9 +962,11 @@
 		if err := handler.handleDeleteTcontRequest(log.WithSpanFromContext(context.Background(), ctx), tConf); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		return &empty.Empty{}, nil
+	} else {
+		logger.Debugw(ctx, "deviceHandler not found", log.Fields{"device-id": tConf.DeviceId})
+		// delete requests for objects of an already deleted ONU should be acknowledged positively - continue
 	}
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf(fmt.Sprintf("handler-not-found-%s", tConf.DeviceId))
+	return &empty.Empty{}, nil
 }
 
 /*