diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index de3f72d15ff..01be808fc80 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ update: notice
 clean: mage
 	@rm -rf build
 	@$(foreach var,$(PROJECTS) $(PROJECTS_XPACK_MAGE),$(MAKE) -C $(var) clean || exit 1;)
-	@$(MAKE) -C generator clean
 	@-mage -clean
 
 ## check : TBD.
diff --git a/dev-tools/mage/clean.go b/dev-tools/mage/clean.go
index 9f191973eb3..c58a7b56ab0 100644
--- a/dev-tools/mage/clean.go
+++ b/dev-tools/mage/clean.go
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@
 package mage
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+
 	"github.com/magefile/mage/sh"
 )
 
@@ -46,6 +51,12 @@ func Clean(pathLists ...[]string) error {
 		for _, f := range paths {
 			f = MustExpand(f)
 			if err := sh.Rm(f); err != nil {
+				if errors.Is(err, os.ErrPermission) ||
+					strings.Contains(err.Error(), "permission denied") {
+					fmt.Printf("warn: cannot delete %q: %v, proceeding anyway\n",
+						f, err)
+					continue
+				}
 				return err
 			}
 		}