diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 28ac84d25..bdbbf0050 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ override_dh_compress:
 
 override_dh_auto_clean:
 	# distclean moans about MANIFEST, this is quieter
-	$(MAKE) realclean
+	-$(MAKE) realclean
 
 # Not intended for use by anyone except the author.
 announcedir: