diff --git a/src/pool/srv_pool_scrub_ult.c b/src/pool/srv_pool_scrub_ult.c
index fef7efa25e0..faf7c1f6c5f 100644
--- a/src/pool/srv_pool_scrub_ult.c
+++ b/src/pool/srv_pool_scrub_ult.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * (C) Copyright 2021-2022 Intel Corporation.
- * (C) Copyright 2025 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
+ * (C) Copyright 2025-2026 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause-Patent
  */
@@ -344,6 +344,12 @@ scrubbing_ult(void *arg)
 	while (!dss_ult_exiting(child->spc_scrubbing_req)) {
 		uint32_t sleep_time = 1000;
 
+		if (child->spc_pool->sp_stopping) {
+			D_INFO(DF_UUID ": pool is stopping, scrubber exiting\n",
+			       DP_UUID(pool_uuid));
+			break;
+		}
+
 		rc = vos_scrub_pool(&ctx);
 		if (rc == -DER_SHUTDOWN) {
 			D_ERROR("tgt_id %d shutting down. Scrubber should quit\n",
diff --git a/src/vos/vos_pool_scrub.c b/src/vos/vos_pool_scrub.c
index bd7b4091a4f..757d67b5489 100644
--- a/src/vos/vos_pool_scrub.c
+++ b/src/vos/vos_pool_scrub.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * (C) Copyright 2020-2024 Intel Corporation.
- * (C) Copyright 2025 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
+ * (C) Copyright 2025-2026 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause-Patent
  */
@@ -161,6 +161,12 @@ sc_cont_is_stopping(struct scrub_ctx *ctx)
 	return ctx->sc_cont_is_stopping_fn(ctx->sc_cont.scs_cont_src);
 }
 
+static inline bool
+sc_pool_is_stopping(const struct scrub_ctx *ctx)
+{
+	return ctx->sc_pool != NULL && ctx->sc_pool->sp_stopping;
+}
+
 static inline bool
 sc_scrub_enabled(struct scrub_ctx *ctx)
 {
@@ -232,6 +238,9 @@ sc_should_start(struct scrub_ctx *ctx)
 	if (!sc_scrub_enabled(ctx))
 		return false;
 
+	if (sc_pool_is_stopping(ctx))
+		return false;
+
 	if (ctx->sc_pool_scrub_count == 0 || sc_frequency_time_over(ctx)) {
 		if (ctx->sc_pool->sp_scrub_mode == DAOS_SCRUB_MODE_LAZY) { /* only run if idle */
 			bool is_idle = sc_is_idle(ctx);
@@ -803,8 +812,17 @@ cont_iter_scrub_cb(daos_handle_t ih, vos_iter_entry_t *entry,
 	} else {
 		rc = sc_cont_setup(ctx, entry);
 		if (rc != 0) {
-			/* log error for container, but then keep going */
-			D_ERROR("Unable to setup the container. "DF_RC"\n", DP_RC(rc));
+			/* DER_CONT_NONEXIST is expected when a container is deleted;
+			 * log at debug level and skip it.  Use error level for any
+			 * other unexpected failure.
+			 */
+			if (rc == -DER_CONT_NONEXIST)
+				D_DEBUG(DB_CSUM,
+					"Container " DF_UUIDF " removed, skipping: " DF_RC "\n",
+					DP_UUID(entry->ie_couuid), DP_RC(rc));
+			else
+				D_ERROR("Unable to setup the container " DF_UUIDF ": " DF_RC "\n",
+					DP_UUID(entry->ie_couuid), DP_RC(rc));
 			return 0;
 		}
 
@@ -868,10 +886,19 @@ cont_iter_is_loaded_cb(daos_handle_t ih, vos_iter_entry_t *entry,
 	D_ASSERT(type == VOS_ITER_COUUID);
 
 	rc = sc_cont_setup(ctx, entry);
-	if (rc != 0)
-		return rc;
-	if (sc_cont_is_stopping(ctx))
+	if (rc != 0) {
+		if (rc == -DER_CONT_NONEXIST)
+			D_DEBUG(DB_CSUM, "Container " DF_UUIDF " removed, skipping: " DF_RC "\n",
+				DP_UUID(entry->ie_couuid), DP_RC(rc));
+		else
+			D_ERROR("Unable to setup container " DF_UUIDF ": " DF_RC "\n",
+				DP_UUID(entry->ie_couuid), DP_RC(rc));
 		return 0;
+	}
+	if (sc_cont_is_stopping(ctx)) {
+		sc_cont_teardown(ctx);
+		return 0;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * Is loaded when the properties have been fetched. That way the csummer has been
@@ -908,6 +935,8 @@ sc_ensure_containers_are_loaded(struct scrub_ctx *ctx)
 		args.args_found_unloaded_container = false;
 		rc = vos_iterate(&param, VOS_ITER_COUUID, false, &anchors, NULL,
 				 cont_iter_is_loaded_cb, &args, NULL);
+		if (sc_pool_is_stopping(ctx))
+			return 0;
 		sc_sleep(ctx, 500);
 	} while (args.args_found_unloaded_container || rc != 0);
 	ctx->sc_cont_loaded = true;