diff --git a/package-build.el b/package-build.el
index 61d3c7a4..bd359168 100644
--- a/package-build.el
+++ b/package-build.el
@@ -533,6 +533,9 @@ of the same-named package which is to be kept."
                  version
                  cfg)))
 
+          (when (file-exists-p pkg-dir)
+            (delete-directory pkg-dir t nil))
+
           (copy-directory file-name pkg-dir)
 
           (pb/write-pkg-file (expand-file-name