diff --git a/share/mk/local.sys.mk b/share/mk/local.sys.mk
index e3bfd572f411..a4b7b0561f15 100644
--- a/share/mk/local.sys.mk
+++ b/share/mk/local.sys.mk
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ MAKE_PRINT_VAR_ON_ERROR+= \
 	OBJTOP \
 	${MAKE_PRINT_VAR_ON_ERROR_XTRAS}
 
+# Meta mode may rebuild targets that then fail. The next build won't detect
+# the meta mode change. Not all targets have a 'rm ${.TARGET}' in them
+# so force it.
+.DELETE_ON_ERROR:
+
 .if ${.MAKE.LEVEL} > 0
 MAKE_PRINT_VAR_ON_ERROR += .MAKE.MAKEFILES .PATH
 .endif