diff --git a/scripts/Kbuild.include b/scripts/Kbuild.include
index 86321f06461e..ed303f552f9d 100644
--- a/scripts/Kbuild.include
+++ b/scripts/Kbuild.include
@@ -400,3 +400,6 @@ endif
 endef
 #
 ###############################################################################
+
+# delete partially updated (i.e. corrupted) files on error
+.DELETE_ON_ERROR: