package couchdb 1.0.1-0ubuntu15 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1

[Larry Canady]

just ran sudo apt-get remove couchdb . An error message poped up right after that

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  couchdb
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 4 not upgraded.
After this operation, 90.1 kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
(Reading database ... 332787 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing couchdb ...
 * Stopping database server couchdb [fail]
invoke-rc.d: initscript couchdb, action "stop" failed.
dpkg: error processing couchdb (--remove):
 subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
 * Starting database server couchdb [ OK ]
Errors were encountered while processing:
 couchdb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: couchdb 1.0.1-0ubuntu15
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-13.54-generic 2.6.38.8
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-13-generic i686
AptOrdering: couchdb: Remove
Architecture: i386
Date: Mon Jan 30 12:30:11 2012
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release i386 (20091028.5)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: couchdb
Title: package couchdb 1.0.1-0ubuntu15 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed pre-removal script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-06-15 (228 days ago)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Flyte (o-launchpad-net)]

Workaround is to start the couchdb service first, then remove:

sudo service couchdb start
sudo apt-get remove couchdb

Problem appears to be with stopping couchdb service when it's not running.