diff --git a/doc/Makefile.am b/doc/Makefile.am
index 16b6dc6..b0cdf1f 100644
--- a/doc/Makefile.am
+++ b/doc/Makefile.am
@@ -39,6 +39,6 @@ dist-hook : apidox
 	cp -Rp './API' '$(distdir)/API'
 
 distclean-local :
-	test -d './API' && rm -rf './API'
+	if test -d './API'; then rm -rf './API'; fi
 
 MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = API