diff --git a/lib/ace/edit_session/folding.js b/lib/ace/edit_session/folding.js
index a727b15a..0274cd58 100644
--- a/lib/ace/edit_session/folding.js
+++ b/lib/ace/edit_session/folding.js
@@ -289,13 +289,12 @@ function Folding() {
         if (startFold && endFold == startFold)
             return startFold.addSubFold(fold);
 
-        if (
-            (startFold && !startFold.range.isStart(startRow, startColumn))
-            || (endFold && !endFold.range.isEnd(endRow, endColumn))
-        ) {
-            throw new Error("A fold can't intersect already existing fold" + fold.range + startFold.range);
-        }
-
+        if (startFold && !startFold.range.isStart(startRow, startColumn))
+            this.removeFold(startFold);
+        
+        if (endFold && !endFold.range.isEnd(endRow, endColumn))
+            this.removeFold(endFold);
+        
         // Check if there are folds in the range we create the new fold for.
         var folds = this.getFoldsInRange(fold.range);
         if (folds.length > 0) {