diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 57256f707..87964840d 100755
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ clean:
 	@find ./ -name "*.os" -exec rm {} \;
 	@find ./ -name "*.o" -exec rm {} \;
 	@find ./ -name "*.pyc" -exec rm {} \;
-	@rm bindings/python/mapnik/paths.py
+	@if test -e "bindings/python/mapnik/paths.py"; then rm "bindings/python/mapnik/paths.py"; fi
 
 distclean:
 	@if test -e "config.cache"; then rm "config.cache"; fi
diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 4dfc82a54..ad51f5f9e 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -454,6 +454,8 @@ HELP_REQUESTED = False
 if ('-h' in command_line_args) or ('--help' in command_line_args):
     HELP_REQUESTED = True
 
+if ('-c' in command_line_args) or ('--clean' in command_line_args):
+    HELP_REQUESTED = True
 
 if 'configure' in command_line_args and not HELP_REQUESTED:
     force_configure = True