diff --git a/Makefile.pre.in b/Makefile.pre.in
index 80fc894a681..259cd8707a6 100644
--- a/Makefile.pre.in
+++ b/Makefile.pre.in
@@ -988,10 +988,10 @@ clobber: clean
 
 # Make things extra clean, before making a distribution:
 # remove all generated files, even Makefile[.pre]
+# Keep configure and Python-ast.[ch], it's possible they can't be generated
 distclean: clobber
 	-rm -f core Makefile Makefile.pre buildno config.status \
 		Modules/Setup Modules/Setup.local Modules/Setup.config
-	-rm -f $(AST_H) $(AST_C)
 	find $(srcdir) '(' -name '*.fdc' -o -name '*~' \
 			   -o -name '[@,#]*' -o -name '*.old' \
 			   -o -name '*.orig' -o -name '*.rej' \