diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 159d9592b587..b6fa039c18b8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1088,8 +1088,14 @@ endif
 
 PHONY += resolve_btfids_clean
 
+resolve_btfids_O = $(abspath $(objtree))/tools/bpf/resolve_btfids
+
+# tools/bpf/resolve_btfids directory might not exist
+# in output directory, skip its clean in that case
 resolve_btfids_clean:
-	$(Q)$(MAKE) -sC $(srctree)/tools/bpf/resolve_btfids O=$(abspath $(objtree))/tools/bpf/resolve_btfids clean
+ifneq ($(wildcard $(resolve_btfids_O)),)
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) -sC $(srctree)/tools/bpf/resolve_btfids O=$(resolve_btfids_O) clean
+endif
 
 ifdef CONFIG_BPF
 ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO_BTF