diff --git a/mk/target.mk b/mk/target.mk
index 4928732e2e4b733964b88fa2cc4d146dc474b604..11fe5943b6f83c9de07f788b90c7d1a589d8c7c3 100644
--- a/mk/target.mk
+++ b/mk/target.mk
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ endef
 # Extra stuff for compiling Haskell files with $(SplitObjs):
 
 HC_SPLIT_PRE= \
- $(RM) $@ ; if [ ! -d $(basename $@) ]; then mkdir $(basename $@); else \
+ $@ ; if [ ! -d $(basename $@) ]; then mkdir $(basename $@); else \
  $(FIND) $(basename $@) -name '*.$(way_)o' -print | xargs $(RM) __rm_food ; fi
 HC_SPLIT_POST  = touch $@