Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a potentially life-threatening infection, where gas produced by bacteria accumulates in the kidney and the surrounding tissue. Although EPN usually presents in diabetic women, it is also associated with urinary tract obstruction and kidney tumours in non-diabetic patients. We present a case of EPN in a non-diabetic patient with a known kidney tumour, successfully treated with double-J catheter, antibiotics and delayed nephrectomy.