diff --git a/maketgz b/maketgz
index e377c9b73..b740173db 100755
--- a/maketgz
+++ b/maketgz
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@ if test -z "$patch"; then
     exit
 fi
 
+#
+# As a precaution, remove all *.dist files that may be lying around, to reduce
+# the risk of old leftovers getting shipped. The root 'Makefile.dist' is the
+# exception.
+echo "removing all old *.dist files"
+find . -name "*.dist" -a ! -name Makefile.dist -exec rm {} \;
+
 numeric=`perl -e 'printf("%02x%02x%02x\n", '"$major, $minor, $patch);"`
 
 HEADER=include/curl/curlver.h