diff --git a/package/Makefile b/package/Makefile
index d21fedf31b..ff7075d41c 100644
--- a/package/Makefile
+++ b/package/Makefile
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ prereq: $(PREREQ_PACKAGES)
 download: $(DOWNLOAD_PACKAGES)
 compile-targets: $(COMPILE_PACKAGES)
 compile:
-	@-rm -f $(PACKAGE_DIR)/*.ipk
 	$(MAKE) compile-targets
 
 install-targets: $(INSTALL_PACKAGES)