diff --git a/cmd/troubleshoot/cli/run_nocrd.go b/cmd/troubleshoot/cli/run_nocrd.go
index f1980de07..c55f48fb5 100644
--- a/cmd/troubleshoot/cli/run_nocrd.go
+++ b/cmd/troubleshoot/cli/run_nocrd.go
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func runCollectors(v *viper.Viper, collector troubleshootv1beta1.Collector) (str
 				collectorDirs = append(collectorDirs, collectorDir)
 
 				if err := client.Delete(context.Background(), newPod); err != nil {
-					fmt.Println("delete pod")
+					fmt.Println("delete pod error", err)
 				}
 				podsDeleted = append(podsDeleted, newPod)
 			},
@@ -225,7 +225,8 @@ func runCollectors(v *viper.Viper, collector troubleshootv1beta1.Collector) (str
 		fmt.Printf("creating collector\n")
 		_, pod, err := collectrunner.CreateCollector(client, s, &owner, collector.Name, v.GetString("namespace"), serviceAccountName, "troubleshoot", collect, v.GetString("image"), v.GetString("pullpolicy"))
 		if err != nil {
-			return "", err
+			fmt.Printf("A collector pod cannot be created: %v\n", err)
+			continue
 		}
 		podsCreated = append(podsCreated, pod)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/collect/runner.go b/pkg/collect/runner.go
index 04156e0d2..6c162ed00 100644
--- a/pkg/collect/runner.go
+++ b/pkg/collect/runner.go
@@ -89,7 +89,9 @@ func createCollectorPod(client client.Client, scheme *runtime.Scheme, ownerRef m
 
 	found := &corev1.Pod{}
 	err := client.Get(context.Background(), namespacedName, found)
-	if err == nil || !kuberneteserrors.IsNotFound(err) {
+	if err == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("pod %q already exists", name)
+	} else if !kuberneteserrors.IsNotFound(err) {
 		return nil, err
 	}