diff --git a/src/makelib.env.in b/src/makelib.env.in
index f1bd294804..1707f4ad24 100644
--- a/src/makelib.env.in
+++ b/src/makelib.env.in
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ $(top_builddir)/lib/$(TARGETLIB_SHARED): $(OBJECTS)
 
 $(top_builddir)/lib/$(TARGETLIB_STATIC): $(OBJECTS)
 	@$(INSTALL) -d $(top_builddir)/lib
-	ar $(AROPTIONS) $@ $(OBJECTS)
+	@$(RM) $@
+	$(AR) $(AROPTIONS) $@ $(OBJECTS)
 	$(RANLIB) $@
 
 install: install_@WX_TARGET_LIBRARY_TYPE@ install_headers