diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 02a1032442..f764ae5419 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -546,9 +546,9 @@ define PURGE_LOCALES
 
 	for dir in $(wildcard $(addprefix $(TARGET_DIR),/usr/share/locale /usr/share/X11/locale /usr/lib/locale)); \
 	do \
-		for lang in $$(cd $$dir; ls .|grep -v man); \
+		for langdir in $$dir/*; \
 		do \
-			grep -qx $$lang $(LOCALE_WHITELIST) || rm -rf $$dir/$$lang; \
+			grep -qx $${langdir##*/} $(LOCALE_WHITELIST) || rm -rf $$langdir; \
 		done; \
 	done
 endef