diff --git a/release_builder/create_base_package.sh b/release_builder/create_base_package.sh
index aa777e2..60b47d7 100755
--- a/release_builder/create_base_package.sh
+++ b/release_builder/create_base_package.sh
@@ -24,11 +24,13 @@ cd $WORKSPACE
 
 
 # wipe directories and re-create
-rm -rf output
 rm -rf staging
 mkdir -p output
 mkdir -p staging
 
+# wipe existing data TXZs
+rm output/FlightGear-$VERSION*data.txz
+
 rsync -az --exclude=".git" fgdata staging/
 
 # add all the scenery pack files into it