diff --git a/scripts/Kbuild.include b/scripts/Kbuild.include
index 63774307a751..8f8965608ee3 100644
--- a/scripts/Kbuild.include
+++ b/scripts/Kbuild.include
@@ -394,3 +394,6 @@ endif
 endef
 #
 ###############################################################################
+
+# delete partially updated (i.e. corrupted) files on error
+.DELETE_ON_ERROR: