diff --git a/blobstore/src/main/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/config/LocalBlobStore.java b/blobstore/src/main/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/config/LocalBlobStore.java
index 2eba12b..aa5b73c 100644
--- a/blobstore/src/main/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/config/LocalBlobStore.java
+++ b/blobstore/src/main/java/org/jclouds/blobstore/config/LocalBlobStore.java
@@ -632,14 +632,14 @@
          logger.debug("Container %s does not exist", containerName);
          throw cnfe(containerName);
       }
+
       // If the blob doesn't exist, a null object is returned
-      if (!storageStrategy.blobExists(containerName, key)) {
+      Blob blob = loadBlob(containerName, key);
+      if (blob == null) {
          logger.debug("Item %s does not exist in container %s", key, containerName);
          return null;
       }
 
-      Blob blob = loadBlob(containerName, key);
-
       if (options != null) {
          String eTag = blob.getMetadata().getETag();
          if (eTag != null) {