diff --git a/scripts/unpack b/scripts/unpack
index 03fba2c1b0..a264c3f805 100755
--- a/scripts/unpack
+++ b/scripts/unpack
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ for i in $BUILD/$1-*; do
   fi
 done
 
+if [ -d "$PKG_BUILD" -a ! -f "$STAMP" ]; then
+  # stale pkg build dir
+  $SCRIPTS/clean $1
+fi
+
 [ -f "$STAMP" ] && exit 0
 
 printf "%${BUILD_INDENT}c ${boldcyan}UNPACK${endcolor}   $1\n" ' '>&$SILENT_OUT