diff --git a/make/py-rules.mk b/make/py-rules.mk
index acf463ff..73f098fe 100644
--- a/make/py-rules.mk
+++ b/make/py-rules.mk
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ all:
 
 py.clean:
 	$(RM) -f *.done *.pyc *.rep
-	/bin/bash $(JWB_SCRIPT_DIR)/scm.sh clean -f __init__.py
 	$(RM) -rf __pycache__ .mypy_cache
+ifeq ($(PY_UPDATE_INIT_PY),true)
+	/bin/bash $(JWB_SCRIPT_DIR)/scm.sh clean -f __init__.py
+endif
 
 install-dirs.done:
 	$(INSTALL) -d -m $(PYJWBDIRMODE) -o $(PYJWBDIROWNER) -g $(PYJWBDIRGROUP) $(PY_INSTALL_DIRS)