diff --git a/Configurations/unix-Makefile.tmpl b/Configurations/unix-Makefile.tmpl
index b13fb5dd48..70ac47b73c 100644
--- a/Configurations/unix-Makefile.tmpl
+++ b/Configurations/unix-Makefile.tmpl
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ clean: libclean ## Clean the workspace, keep the configuration
 	$(RM) tags TAGS doc-nits md-nits
 	$(RM) -r test/test-runs
 	$(RM) providers/fips*.new
-	-find . -type l \! -name '.*' -exec $(RM) {} \;
+	-find . -type l \! -name '.*' \! -wholename './pkcs11-provider/*' -exec $(RM) {} \;
 
 distclean: clean ## Clean and remove the configuration
 	$(RM) include/openssl/configuration.h