diff --git a/pkg/linux/build-functions.sh b/pkg/linux/build-functions.sh
index a9ff3a5bf..2b6ff6482 100644
--- a/pkg/linux/build-functions.sh
+++ b/pkg/linux/build-functions.sh
@@ -100,7 +100,9 @@ _build_runtime() {
     echo "Building the desktop runtime..."
     _create_python_virtualenv
     cd ${SOURCEDIR}/runtime
-    make clean
+    if [ -f Makefile ]; then
+        make clean
+    fi
     qmake
     make
     mkdir -p "${DESKTOPROOT}/usr/${APP_NAME}/bin"