diff --git a/src/node/waku_node.py b/src/node/waku_node.py
index db1514fef1f..8f17e77a0ca 100644
--- a/src/node/waku_node.py
+++ b/src/node/waku_node.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 from src.env_vars import DOCKER_LOG_DIR
 from src.data_storage import DS
 from src.test_data import DEFAULT_CLUSTER_ID
-from pathlib import Path
 
 logger = get_custom_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -198,9 +197,9 @@ def register_rln(self, **kwargs):
 
         if rln_creds_set:
             if rln_credential_store_ready(keystore_path, True):
-                p = Path(keystore_path)
                 try:
-                    p.touch()
+                    dir_path = keystore_path.removesuffix("/keystore.json")
+                    shutil.rmtree(dir_path)
                 except Exception as ex:
                     logger.error(f"Keystore removal before RLN registration failed {ex}")
                     raise