diff --git a/scripts/image b/scripts/image
index c7dead4335..c38e05c3cf 100755
--- a/scripts/image
+++ b/scripts/image
@@ -215,6 +215,8 @@ IMAGE_NAME="$DISTRONAME-$TARGET_VERSION"
 
     # create release dir
       mkdir -p $RELEASE_DIR
+      # remove n previous created release image
+        rm -rf $TARGET_IMG/$IMAGE_NAME.img.gz
         if [ -n "$BOOTLOADER" ]; then
           BOOTLOADER_DIR=`find $PACKAGES -type d -name $BOOTLOADER 2>/dev/null`
           if [ -d "$BOOTLOADER_DIR"/files ]; then
@@ -262,7 +264,6 @@ IMAGE_NAME="$DISTRONAME-$TARGET_VERSION"
 
     # remove an previous created release tarball
       rm -rf $TARGET_IMG/$IMAGE_NAME.tar
-      rm -rf $TARGET_IMG/$IMAGE_NAME.img.gz
 
     # create release tarball
       tar cf $TARGET_IMG/$IMAGE_NAME.tar -C target $IMAGE_NAME