diff --git a/confluent_vtbufferd/Makefile b/confluent_vtbufferd/Makefile
index 95b1b35c..cc436526 100644
--- a/confluent_vtbufferd/Makefile
+++ b/confluent_vtbufferd/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ vtbufferd: vtbufferd.c tmt.c
 	gcc -O3 --std=gnu11 -o vtbufferd vtbufferd.c tmt.c
 
 clean:
-	rm vtbufferd
+	rm -f vtbufferd
 
 install:
 	mkdir -p $(DESTDIR)/opt/confluent/bin