diff --git a/topology/Makefile.am b/topology/Makefile.am
index a7e86fd76..31d266efc 100644
--- a/topology/Makefile.am
+++ b/topology/Makefile.am
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ MACHINES = \
 
 all: ${MACHINES}
 
-clean:
+clean-local:
 	rm -f *.conf
 	rm -f *.tplg
 
diff --git a/topology/test/Makefile.am b/topology/test/Makefile.am
index 565f222b9..61713f9f8 100644
--- a/topology/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/topology/test/Makefile.am
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ DEPS = \
 all : *.m4 ${DEPS}
 	./tplg-build.sh
 
-clean:
+clean-local:
 	rm -f *.conf
 	rm -f *.tplg