diff --git a/napalm/junos/junos.py b/napalm/junos/junos.py
index 3fc36d28c..7d3b4204e 100644
--- a/napalm/junos/junos.py
+++ b/napalm/junos/junos.py
@@ -267,6 +267,7 @@ def _load_candidate(self, filename, config, overwrite):
                 ignore_warning=self.ignore_warning,
             )
         except ConfigLoadError as e:
+            self.discard_config()
             if self.config_replace:
                 raise ReplaceConfigException(e.errs)
             else: