diff --git a/external/Makefile b/external/Makefile
index da1a50183..704a36d16 100644
--- a/external/Makefile
+++ b/external/Makefile
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ clean: external-clean
 
 external-clean:
 	$(RM) $(EXTERNAL_LIBS) external/*.la external/*.o
-	make -C external/libsodium clean
-	make -C external/libwally-core clean
-	make -C external/libwally-core/src clean
+	if [ -f external/libsodium/Makefile ]; then make -C external/libsodium clean; fi
+	if [ -f external/libwally-core/Makefile ]; then make -C external/libwally-core clean; fi
+	if [ -f external/ibwally-core/src/Makefile ]; then make -C external/libwally-core/src clean; fi
 
 external-distclean:
 	make -C external/libsodium distclean || true