diff --git a/endpoints/index.py b/endpoints/index.py
index c8b519c7e..981c83b3e 100644
--- a/endpoints/index.py
+++ b/endpoints/index.py
@@ -158,10 +158,6 @@ def create_repository(namespace, repository):
   for existing in model.get_repository_images(namespace, repository):
     if existing.docker_image_id in new_repo_images:
       added_images.pop(existing.docker_image_id)
-    else:
-      logger.debug('Deleting existing image with id: %s' %
-                   existing.docker_image_id)
-      existing.delete_instance(recursive=True)
 
   for image_description in added_images.values():
     model.create_image(image_description['id'], repo)