diff --git a/templates.mk b/templates.mk
index 84364297b..ab99168bb 100644
--- a/templates.mk
+++ b/templates.mk
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ define instantiate-template
 endef
 
 %.h: %.h.in
-	$(trace-gen) ./config.status --quiet --header=$@
+	$(trace-gen) rm -f $@ && ./config.status --quiet --header=$@
 
 %: %.in
-	$(trace-gen) ./config.status --quiet --file=$@
+	$(trace-gen) rm -f $@ && ./config.status --quiet --file=$@