diff --git a/Makefile.inc1 b/Makefile.inc1
index 82f9bd9b8088..af4fb486404f 100644
--- a/Makefile.inc1
+++ b/Makefile.inc1
@@ -760,10 +760,12 @@ _worldtmp: .PHONY
 	rm -rf ${LIBCOMPATTMP}
 .endif
 .else
+.if exists(${WORLDTMP})
 	@echo ">>> Deleting stale files in build tree..."
 	${_+_}cd ${.CURDIR}; ${WMAKE} -DBATCH_DELETE_OLD_FILES \
 	    delete-old delete-old-libs >/dev/null
-.if defined(LIBCOMPAT)
+.endif
+.if defined(LIBCOMPAT) && exists(${LIBCOMPATTMP})
 	${_+_}cd ${.CURDIR}; ${WMAKE} -DBATCH_DELETE_OLD_FILES \
 	    DESTDIR=${LIBCOMPATTMP} \
 	    delete-old delete-old-libs >/dev/null