diff --git a/scripts/Kbuild.include b/scripts/Kbuild.include
index 13ebddda65..460acd61f9 100644
--- a/scripts/Kbuild.include
+++ b/scripts/Kbuild.include
@@ -315,6 +315,9 @@ why =                                                                        \
 echo-why = $(call escsq, $(strip $(why)))
 endif
 
+# delete partially updated (i.e. corrupted) files on error
+.DELETE_ON_ERROR:
+
 ifdef CONFIG_SPL_BUILD
 SPL_ := SPL_
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_TPL_BUILD),y)