diff --git a/core/Makefile b/core/Makefile
index f7feda0fb8..d81eadc1a7 100644
--- a/core/Makefile
+++ b/core/Makefile
@@ -768,7 +768,6 @@ $(3)/$(DEPMOD_STAGING_SUBDIR)/modules.dep: $(1) $(6)
 	$(if $(6),\
 	  unzip -qo -d $$(PRIVATE_MODULE_DIR) $$(PRIVATE_MODULE_ARCHIVE); \
 	  mkdir -p $$(PRIVATE_OUTPUT_DIR)/lib; \
-	  rm -rf $$(PRIVATE_OUTPUT_DIR)/lib/modules; \
 	  cp -r $$(PRIVATE_MODULE_DIR) $$(PRIVATE_OUTPUT_DIR)/lib/; \
 	  find $$(PRIVATE_MODULE_DIR) -type f -name *.ko | xargs basename -a > $$(PRIVATE_LOAD_FILE); \
 	)