diff --git a/target/cpio/cpioroot.mk b/target/cpio/cpioroot.mk
index ce47fba6f8..8f460c713b 100644
--- a/target/cpio/cpioroot.mk
+++ b/target/cpio/cpioroot.mk
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 CPIO_TARGET:=$(IMAGE).cpio
 
 cpioroot-init:
+	rm -f $(TARGET_DIR)/init
 	ln -s sbin/init $(TARGET_DIR)/init
 
 cpioroot: host-fakeroot makedevs cpioroot-init