diff --git a/make-dist b/make-dist
index 34fbf0f7312..6c4117a2439 100755
--- a/make-dist
+++ b/make-dist
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ if [ "${bogosities}" != "" ]; then
   echo "The following .elc files have no corresponding .el files:"
   echo "${bogosities}"
 fi
+rm -f /tmp/el /tmp/elc
 
 echo "Creating staging directory: \`${tempparent}'"
 mkdir ${tempparent}