diff --git a/Makefile.pre.in b/Makefile.pre.in
index b0b9ee4cdeb..4db76153102 100644
--- a/Makefile.pre.in
+++ b/Makefile.pre.in
@@ -1160,8 +1160,8 @@ TAGS::
 # Sanitation targets -- clean leaves libraries, executables and tags
 # files, which clobber removes as well
 pycremoval:
-	find $(srcdir) -name '*.py[co]' -exec rm -f {} ';'
-	find $(srcdir) -name '__pycache__' -exec rmdir {} ';'
+	-find $(srcdir) -name '*.py[co]' -exec rm -f {} ';'
+	-find $(srcdir) -name '__pycache__' -exec rmdir {} ';'
 
 rmtestturds:
 	-rm -f *BAD *GOOD *SKIPPED