diff --git a/common.mk b/common.mk
index 4c19733130..42dfe1ab56 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/common.mk
@@ -457,9 +457,9 @@ clean-local:: clean-runnable
 	$(Q)$(RM) y.tab.c y.output encdb.h transdb.h prelude.c config.log rbconfig.rb $(ruby_pc) probes.h probes.$(OBJEXT) probes.stamp ruby-glommed.$(OBJEXT)
 	$(Q)$(RM) GNUmakefile.old Makefile.old $(arch)-fake.rb
 clean-runnable:: PHONY
-	$(Q)$(CHDIR) bin && $(exec) $(RM) $(PROGRAM) $(WPROGRAM) $(GORUBY)$(EXEEXT) bin/*.$(DLEXT)
-	$(Q)$(CHDIR) lib && $(exec) $(RM) $(LIBRUBY_A) $(LIBRUBY) $(LIBRUBY_ALIASES) $(RUBY_BASE_NAME)/$(RUBY_PROGRAM_VERSION) $(RUBY_BASE_NAME)/vendor_ruby
-	$(Q)$(RMDIR) lib/$(RUBY_BASE_NAME) lib bin
+	$(Q)$(CHDIR) bin 2>$(NULL) && $(RM) $(PROGRAM) $(WPROGRAM) $(GORUBY)$(EXEEXT) bin/*.$(DLEXT) 2>$(NULL) || exit 0
+	$(Q)$(CHDIR) lib 2>$(NULL) && $(RM) $(LIBRUBY_A) $(LIBRUBY) $(LIBRUBY_ALIASES) $(RUBY_BASE_NAME)/$(RUBY_PROGRAM_VERSION) $(RUBY_BASE_NAME)/vendor_ruby 2>$(NULL) || exit 0
+	$(Q)$(RMDIR) lib/$(RUBY_BASE_NAME) lib bin 2>$(NULL) || exit 0
 clean-ext:: PHONY
 clean-golf: PHONY
 	$(Q)$(RM) $(GORUBY)$(EXEEXT) $(GOLFOBJS)