diff --git a/racket/collects/setup/unixstyle-install.rkt b/racket/collects/setup/unixstyle-install.rkt
index ee6512bb16..c5d0bebb82 100644
--- a/racket/collects/setup/unixstyle-install.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/setup/unixstyle-install.rkt
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
 
 ;; removes a file or a directory (recursively)
 (define (rm path)
-  (delete-directory/files path))
+  (delete-directory/files path #:must-exist? #f))
 
 ;; removes "compiled" subdirectories recursively
 (define (rm-compiled path)