diff --git a/pkgs/applications/misc/bitcoin/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/misc/bitcoin/default.nix
index d66ccf7cb58..9c9b3599158 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/misc/bitcoin/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/misc/bitcoin/default.nix
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   makefile = "makefile.unix";
 
+  preBuild = "make -f ${makefile} clean";
+
   buildFlags = "bitcoin bitcoind";
 
   installPhase = ''