diff --git a/tutorials/zephyr/device-dashboard/Makefile b/tutorials/zephyr/device-dashboard/Makefile
index e7cbbb35..95c9bb9f 100644
--- a/tutorials/zephyr/device-dashboard/Makefile
+++ b/tutorials/zephyr/device-dashboard/Makefile
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ run:
 	$(DOCKER) west build -t run
 
 clean:
-	-$(DOCKER) west build -t clean
+	-test -d $(CURDIR)/build && $(DOCKER) west build -t clean
 
 pristine:
 	-$(DOCKER) west build -t pristine
diff --git a/tutorials/zephyr/http-client/Makefile b/tutorials/zephyr/http-client/Makefile
index e5aa7fff..e5571523 100644
--- a/tutorials/zephyr/http-client/Makefile
+++ b/tutorials/zephyr/http-client/Makefile
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ run:
 	$(DOCKER) west build -t run
 
 clean:
-	-$(DOCKER) west build -t clean
+	-test -d $(CURDIR)/build && $(DOCKER) west build -t clean
 
 pristine:
 	-$(DOCKER) west build -t pristine
diff --git a/tutorials/zephyr/http-server/Makefile b/tutorials/zephyr/http-server/Makefile
index e5aa7fff..e5571523 100644
--- a/tutorials/zephyr/http-server/Makefile
+++ b/tutorials/zephyr/http-server/Makefile
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ run:
 	$(DOCKER) west build -t run
 
 clean:
-	-$(DOCKER) west build -t clean
+	-test -d $(CURDIR)/build && $(DOCKER) west build -t clean
 
 pristine:
 	-$(DOCKER) west build -t pristine
diff --git a/tutorials/zephyr/mqtt-aws-client/Makefile b/tutorials/zephyr/mqtt-aws-client/Makefile
index e5aa7fff..e5571523 100644
--- a/tutorials/zephyr/mqtt-aws-client/Makefile
+++ b/tutorials/zephyr/mqtt-aws-client/Makefile
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ run:
 	$(DOCKER) west build -t run
 
 clean:
-	-$(DOCKER) west build -t clean
+	-test -d $(CURDIR)/build && $(DOCKER) west build -t clean
 
 pristine:
 	-$(DOCKER) west build -t pristine
diff --git a/tutorials/zephyr/websocket-server/Makefile b/tutorials/zephyr/websocket-server/Makefile
index e5aa7fff..e5571523 100644
--- a/tutorials/zephyr/websocket-server/Makefile
+++ b/tutorials/zephyr/websocket-server/Makefile
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ run:
 	$(DOCKER) west build -t run
 
 clean:
-	-$(DOCKER) west build -t clean
+	-test -d $(CURDIR)/build && $(DOCKER) west build -t clean
 
 pristine:
 	-$(DOCKER) west build -t pristine