diff --git a/src/dragon/shscripts/building b/src/dragon/shscripts/building
index 9b29b7731..60896b1cb 100644
--- a/src/dragon/shscripts/building
+++ b/src/dragon/shscripts/building
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ clean_dir()
 {
     DNAME=$(get_name $1)
     pushd $DNAME &> /dev/null
-    if ! [[ -f $DRAGON_DIR/.clean ]]; then
+    if [[ -d $DRAGON_DIR && ! -f $DRAGON_DIR/.clean ]]; then
         prefix_print "Cleaning $DNAME"
         if [[ -z $DRAGON_DIR ]];  then
         drexit_reason "nil DRAGON_DIR"