diff --git a/tools/Makefile b/tools/Makefile
index 48cfbbcc5..87a2940d0 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile
+++ b/tools/Makefile
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ endef
 endif
 
 $(STAGING_DIR_HOST)/bin/stat: $(STAGING_DIR)/.prepared
+	@rm -f $@
 	@if stat --version > /dev/null 2>&1; then \
 		ln -s `which stat` $@; \
 	elif gstat --version > /dev/null 2>&1; then \