diff --git a/test/cpp/Makefile.am b/test/cpp/Makefile.am
index c609a71..9c4ac07 100755
--- a/test/cpp/Makefile.am
+++ b/test/cpp/Makefile.am
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
 AM_LDFLAGS = $(BOOST_LDFLAGS) $(LIBEVENT_LDFLAGS) $(ZLIB_LIBS)
 
 clean-local:
-	$(RM) -r gen-cpp
+	$(RM) gen-cpp/*
 
 style-local:
 	$(CPPSTYLE_CMD)