diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1acad5fd5b..393d4b1f2a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1378,7 +1378,7 @@ SHELL = $(SHELL_PATH)
 
 all:: shell_compatibility_test $(ALL_PROGRAMS) $(BUILT_INS) $(OTHER_PROGRAMS) GIT-BUILD-OPTIONS
 ifneq (,$X)
-	$(QUIET_BUILT_IN)$(foreach p,$(patsubst %$X,%,$(filter %$X,$(ALL_PROGRAMS) $(BUILT_INS) git$X)), test '$p' -ef '$p$X' || $(RM) '$p';)
+	$(QUIET_BUILT_IN)$(foreach p,$(patsubst %$X,%,$(filter %$X,$(ALL_PROGRAMS) $(BUILT_INS) git$X)), test -d '$p' -o '$p' -ef '$p$X' || $(RM) '$p';)
 endif
 
 all::