diff --git a/cmake/modules/Makefile b/cmake/modules/Makefile
index 1ec5b190b35..dd31aa7926c 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/Makefile
+++ b/cmake/modules/Makefile
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ else
 	LLVM_ENABLE_RTTI := 0
 endif
 
+# Don't try to run llvm-config during clean because it won't be available
+ifneq ($(MAKECMDGOALS),clean)
 LLVM_LIBS_TO_EXPORT := $(subst -l,,$(shell $(LLVM_CONFIG) --libs $(LINK_COMPONENTS) || echo Error))
 
 ifeq ($(LLVM_LIBS_TO_EXPORT),Error)
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ endif
 ifndef LLVM_LIBS_TO_EXPORT
 $(error LLVM_LIBS_TO_EXPORT cannot be empty)
 endif
+endif
 
 OBJMODS := LLVMConfig.cmake LLVMConfigVersion.cmake LLVMExports.cmake