diff --git a/make/projects-dir.mk b/make/projects-dir.mk
index 839504f2..e28e2ccf 100644
--- a/make/projects-dir.mk
+++ b/make/projects-dir.mk
@@ -83,7 +83,9 @@ status:
 	$(PGIT) status
 
 purge:
+ifneq ($(wildcard CVS),)
 	$(PURGE_SH)
+endif
 
 update pull: purge cvs-update git-clone git-pull
 	touch pull.done