diff --git a/mex/build/matlab/mex.am b/mex/build/matlab/mex.am
index 89caf3954..6bc9a4308 100644
--- a/mex/build/matlab/mex.am
+++ b/mex/build/matlab/mex.am
@@ -17,4 +17,6 @@ all-local:
 	done
 
 clean-local:
-	cd $(top_srcdir)/../../matlab && rm -f $(PROGRAMS)
+	if test -d $(top_srcdir)/../../matlab; then \
+		cd $(top_srcdir)/../../matlab && rm -f $(PROGRAMS); \
+	fi
diff --git a/mex/build/octave/mex.am b/mex/build/octave/mex.am
index 0bcd97ebb..029dc4521 100644
--- a/mex/build/octave/mex.am
+++ b/mex/build/octave/mex.am
@@ -29,4 +29,6 @@ all-local:
 	done
 
 clean-local:
-	cd $(top_srcdir)/../../octave && rm -f $(PROGRAMS)
+	if test -d $(top_srcdir)/../../octave; then \
+		cd $(top_srcdir)/../../octave && rm -f $(PROGRAMS); \
+	fi