diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 0c5c089e..02bd581f 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -116,7 +116,11 @@ distclean:
 	rmdir spec 2>/dev/null || true
 	rm -f config.log config.status Makefile libtool
 	rm -fR autom4te.cache
-	rm -fR m4
+	rm -f m4/libtool.m4
+	rm -f m4/lt~obsolete.m4
+	rm -f m4/ltoptions.m4
+	rm -f m4/ltsugar.m4
+	rm -f m4/ltversion.m4
 
 dist: $(distdir).tar.gz