diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index abb880f..90b89d5 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -2340,7 +2340,9 @@ ifeq "$(ENABLE_RUST)" "y"
 endif
 
 ifneq "$(PYTHON_VERSION)" "default"
+ifneq "$(PYTHON)" ""
 	rm -f bin/$(PYTHON)
+endif
 endif
 
 	dh_clean