diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filterpyinotify.py b/fail2ban/server/filterpyinotify.py
index d63d1de6..ef26303a 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filterpyinotify.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filterpyinotify.py
@@ -225,22 +225,27 @@ class FilterPyinotify(FileFilter):
 		self.__watchFiles.update(wd)
 		logSys.debug("Added file watcher for %s", path)
 
+	def _delWatch(self, wdInt):
+		m = self.__monitor
+		try:
+			if m.get_path(wdInt) is not None:
+				wd = m.rm_watch(wdInt, quiet=False)
+				return True
+		except pyinotify.WatchManagerError as e:
+			if m.get_path(wdInt) is not None and not str(e).endswith("(EINVAL)"): # prama: no cover
+				logSys.debug("Remove watch causes: %s", e)
+				raise e
+		return False
+
 	def _delFileWatcher(self, path):
 		try:
 			wdInt = self.__watchFiles.pop(path)
-			if self.__monitor.get_path(wdInt) is not None:
-				wd = self.__monitor.rm_watch(wdInt)
-			else: # pragma: no cover
+			if not self._delWatch(wdInt): # pragma: no cover
 				logSys.debug("Non-existing file watcher %r for file %s", wdInt, path)
-				wd = {wdInt: 1}
-			if wd[wdInt]:
-				logSys.debug("Removed file watcher for %s", path)
-				return True
+			logSys.debug("Removed file watcher for %s", path)
+			return True
 		except KeyError: # pragma: no cover
 			pass
-			# EnvironmentError is parent of IOError, OSError, etc.
-		except EnvironmentError as e: # pragma: no cover (normally unreached)
-			logSys.error("Remove file monitor for %s causes %s", path, e)
 		return False
 
 	def _addDirWatcher(self, path_dir):
@@ -256,16 +261,11 @@ class FilterPyinotify(FileFilter):
 		# Remove watches for the directory:
 		try:
 			wdInt = self.__watchDirs.pop(path_dir)
-			if self.__monitor.get_path(wdInt) is not None:
-				self.__monitor.rm_watch(wdInt)
-			else: # pragma: no cover
+			if not self._delWatch(wdInt): # pragma: no cover
 				logSys.debug("Non-existing file watcher %r for directory %s", wdInt, path_dir)
+			logSys.debug("Removed monitor for the parent directory %s", path_dir)
 		except KeyError: # pragma: no cover
 			pass
-			# EnvironmentError is parent of IOError, OSError, etc.
-		except EnvironmentError as e: # pragma: no cover (normally unreached)
-			logSys.error("Remove monitor for the parent directory %s causes %s", path_dir, e)
-		logSys.debug("Removed monitor for the parent directory %s", path_dir)
 
 	##
 	# Add a log file path
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
index eb57c192..1803974b 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
@@ -980,6 +980,21 @@ def get_monitor_failures_testcase(Filter_):
 			self.assert_correct_last_attempt(GetFailures.FAILURES_01)
 			self.assertEqual(self.filter.failManager.getFailTotal(), 6)
 
+		def test_pyinotify_delWatch(self):
+			if hasattr(self.filter, '_delWatch'): # pyinotify only
+				m = self.filter._FilterPyinotify__monitor
+				# remove existing watch:
+				self.assertTrue(self.filter._delWatch(m.get_wd(self.name)))
+				# mockup get_path to allow once find path for invalid wd-value:
+				_org_get_path = m.get_path
+				def _get_path(wd):
+					#m.get_path = _org_get_path
+					return 'test'
+				m.get_path = _get_path
+				# try remove watch using definitely not existing handle:
+				self.assertFalse(self.filter._delWatch(0x7fffffff))
+				m.get_path = _org_get_path
+
 		def test_del_file(self):
 			# test filter reaction by delete watching file:
 			self.file.close()