diff --git a/macros.octave b/macros.octave
index 614e6db..d1a5a28 100644
--- a/macros.octave
+++ b/macros.octave
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@ echo "endfunction" >> %{buildroot}%{octpkgdir}/packinfo/on_uninstall.m \
 # preun script - we need to remove our uninstall protection and perhaps
 # run the package's own uninstall script.
 %octave_pkg_preun \
-rm %{octpkgdir}/packinfo/on_uninstall.m \
 if [ -e %{octpkgdir}/packinfo/on_uninstall.m.orig ]; then \
   mv %{octpkgdir}/packinfo/on_uninstall.m.orig %{octpkgdir}/packinfo/on_uninstall.m \
   cd %{octpkgdir}/packinfo \
   %octave_cmd l=pkg('list');on_uninstall(l{cellfun(@(x)strcmp(x.name,'%{octpkg}'),l)}); \
+else \
+  echo > %{octpkgdir}/packinfo/on_uninstall.m \
 fi \
 %{nil}