diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 620041b..f6dbf5c 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ clean:
 	dh_testroot
 	rm -f build-stamp
 	dh_clean temp-dictionary
-	-$(MAKE) -i distclean
+	if [ -e Makefile ]; then $(MAKE) -i distclean; fi
 
 binary-indep: build