diff --git a/makepanda/makepanda.py b/makepanda/makepanda.py
index 2803e1cbcb..f53a6a75ba 100755
--- a/makepanda/makepanda.py
+++ b/makepanda/makepanda.py
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ def parseopts(args):
     if RUNTIME or not is_win7:
         PkgDisable("TOUCHINPUT")
 
-    if clean_build:
+    if clean_build and os.path.isdir(GetOutputDir()):
         print("Deleting %s" % (GetOutputDir()))
         shutil.rmtree(GetOutputDir())