diff --git a/pisi/util.py b/pisi/util.py
index bf1a6093..1f6077c3 100644
--- a/pisi/util.py
+++ b/pisi/util.py
@@ -151,7 +151,8 @@ def clean_dir(path):
 #         for name in dirs:
 #             os.rmdir(os.path.join(root, name))
 # don't reimplement the wheel
-    shutil.rmtree(path)
+    if os.path.exists(path):
+        shutil.rmtree(path)
 
 def dir_size(dir):
     """ calculate the size of files under a dir