How about looping through the datasets in the workspace and seeing if the name ("YourFClass") is in there? I've tested this with an In-memory workspace.Dim pEnumDS As ESRI.ArcGIS.Geodatabase.IEnumDataset Dim pDataset As ESRI.ArcGIS.Geodatabase.IDataset pEnumDS = pWorkspace.Datasets(ESRI.ArcGIS.Geodatabase.esriDatasetType.esriDTAny) Do Until pDataset Is Nothing If pDataset.Name = "YourFClass" then System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("Exists") Exit Do pDataset = pEnumDS.Next Loop