diff --git a/lib/hx509/Makefile.am b/lib/hx509/Makefile.am
index bcaeb9b11..aa5559875 100644
--- a/lib/hx509/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/hx509/Makefile.am
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ CLEANFILES = $(BUILT_SOURCES) \
 	random-data statfile crl.crl \
 	test
 
+clean-local:
+	@echo "cleaning PKITS" ; rm -rf PKITS_data
 
 #
 # regression tests