diff --git a/gclient_scm.py b/gclient_scm.py
index 0587304a7..76b1fb543 100644
--- a/gclient_scm.py
+++ b/gclient_scm.py
@@ -1343,6 +1343,7 @@ class CipdRoot(object):
       ensure_file = None
       with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(
           suffix='.ensure', delete=False) as ensure_file:
+        ensure_file.write('$ParanoidMode CheckPresence\n\n')
         for subdir, packages in sorted(self._packages_by_subdir.iteritems()):
           ensure_file.write('@Subdir %s\n' % subdir)
           for package in sorted(packages, key=lambda p: p.name):
diff --git a/tests/gclient_smoketest.py b/tests/gclient_smoketest.py
index f95b6d709..c12fef433 100755
--- a/tests/gclient_smoketest.py
+++ b/tests/gclient_smoketest.py
@@ -1801,6 +1801,8 @@ class GClientSmokeCipd(GClientSmokeBase):
       contents = f.read()
 
     self.assertEqual([
+        '$ParanoidMode CheckPresence',
+        '',
         '@Subdir src/another_cipd_dep',
         'package1 1.1-cr0',
         'package2 1.13',