diff --git a/package/pkg-download.mk b/package/pkg-download.mk
index 758b211097..c00689b89c 100644
--- a/package/pkg-download.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-download.mk
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ endef
 define DOWNLOAD_HG
 	test -e $(DL_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SOURCE) || \
 	(pushd $(DL_DIR) > /dev/null && \
+	rm -rf $($(PKG)_BASE_NAME) && \
 	$(HG) clone --noupdate --rev $($(PKG)_DL_VERSION) $($(PKG)_SITE) $($(PKG)_BASE_NAME) && \
 	$(HG) archive --repository $($(PKG)_BASE_NAME) --type tgz --prefix $($(PKG)_BASE_NAME)/ \
 	              --rev $($(PKG)_DL_VERSION) $(DL_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SOURCE) && \