diff --git a/src/mzscheme/Makefile.in b/src/mzscheme/Makefile.in
index e260e2b8f9..c453eef8f0 100644
--- a/src/mzscheme/Makefile.in
+++ b/src/mzscheme/Makefile.in
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ clean@NOT_OSX@:
 	cd sgc; $(MAKE) clean
 	cd src; $(MAKE) clean
 	cd dynsrc; $(MAKE) clean
-	cd ../foreign ; $(MAKE) clean
+	if [ ! -d ../foreign ] ; then cd ../foreign ; $(MAKE) clean ; fi
 
 clean@OSX@:
 	rm -rf PLT_MzScheme.framework