diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 074d08c04a..5455e6662e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -698,8 +698,9 @@ define PURGE_LOCALES
 	rm -f $(LOCALE_WHITELIST)
 	for i in $(LOCALE_NOPURGE) locale-archive; do echo $$i >> $(LOCALE_WHITELIST); done
 
-	for dir in $(wildcard $(addprefix $(TARGET_DIR),/usr/share/locale /usr/share/X11/locale /usr/lib/locale)); \
+	for dir in $(addprefix $(TARGET_DIR),/usr/share/locale /usr/share/X11/locale /usr/lib/locale); \
 	do \
+		if [ ! -d $$dir ]; then continue; fi; \
 		for langdir in $$dir/*; \
 		do \
 			if [ -e "$${langdir}" ]; \