diff --git a/weed/command/shell.go b/weed/command/shell.go
index c9976e809..4a9f4b027 100644
--- a/weed/command/shell.go
+++ b/weed/command/shell.go
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ func runShell(command *Command, args []string) bool {
 
 	var err error
 	shellOptions.FilerHost, shellOptions.FilerPort, err = util.ParseHostPort(*shellInitialFiler)
+	shellOptions.FilerAddress = *shellInitialFiler
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Printf("failed to parse filer %s: %v\n", *shellInitialFiler, err)
 		return false
diff --git a/weed/remote_storage/mount_mapping.go b/weed/remote_storage/mount_mapping.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..65e7be362
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed/remote_storage/mount_mapping.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package remote_storage
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/filer"
+	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/pb"
+	"github.com/chrislusf/seaweedfs/weed/pb/filer_pb"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc"
+)
+
+func ReadMountMappings(grpcDialOption grpc.DialOption, filerAddress string) (mappings *filer_pb.RemoteStorageMapping, readErr error) {
+	var oldContent []byte
+	if readErr = pb.WithFilerClient(filerAddress, grpcDialOption, func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
+		oldContent, readErr = filer.ReadInsideFiler(client, filer.DirectoryEtcRemote, filer.REMOTE_STORAGE_MOUNT_FILE)
+		return readErr
+	}); readErr != nil {
+		return nil, readErr
+	}
+
+	mappings, readErr = filer.UnmarshalRemoteStorageMappings(oldContent)
+	if readErr != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unmarshal mappings: %v", readErr)
+	}
+
+	return
+}
diff --git a/weed/server/master_server.go b/weed/server/master_server.go
index 9d222a342..a23ad0698 100644
--- a/weed/server/master_server.go
+++ b/weed/server/master_server.go
@@ -228,6 +228,7 @@ func (ms *MasterServer) startAdminScripts() {
 	shellOptions.Masters = &masterAddress
 
 	shellOptions.FilerHost, shellOptions.FilerPort, err = util.ParseHostPort(filerHostPort)
+	shellOptions.FilerAddress = filerHostPort
 	shellOptions.Directory = "/"
 	if err != nil {
 		glog.V(0).Infof("failed to parse master.filer.default = %s : %v\n", filerHostPort, err)
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_remote_mount.go b/weed/shell/command_remote_mount.go
index 55dfb42ca..5cd69f3b0 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_remote_mount.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_remote_mount.go
@@ -79,20 +79,9 @@ func (c *commandRemoteMount) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io
 func (c *commandRemoteMount) listExistingRemoteStorageMounts(commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
 
 	// read current mapping
-	var oldContent []byte
-	err = commandEnv.WithFilerClient(func(client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) error {
-		oldContent, err = filer.ReadInsideFiler(client, filer.DirectoryEtcRemote, filer.REMOTE_STORAGE_MOUNT_FILE)
-		return err
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		if err != filer_pb.ErrNotFound {
-			return fmt.Errorf("read existing mapping: %v", err)
-		}
-	}
-
-	mappings, unmarshalErr := filer.UnmarshalRemoteStorageMappings(oldContent)
-	if unmarshalErr != nil {
-		return unmarshalErr
+	mappings, readErr := remote_storage.ReadMountMappings(commandEnv.option.GrpcDialOption, commandEnv.option.FilerAddress)
+	if readErr != nil {
+		return readErr
 	}
 
 	m := jsonpb.Marshaler{
diff --git a/weed/shell/commands.go b/weed/shell/commands.go
index 0e285214b..5b78f1ff9 100644
--- a/weed/shell/commands.go
+++ b/weed/shell/commands.go
@@ -20,9 +20,10 @@ type ShellOptions struct {
 	Masters        *string
 	GrpcDialOption grpc.DialOption
 	// shell transient context
-	FilerHost string
-	FilerPort int64
-	Directory string
+	FilerHost    string
+	FilerPort    int64
+	FilerAddress string
+	Directory    string
 }
 
 type CommandEnv struct {