diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7c02dc239f..21e644c505 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ pull_xblock_translations:  ## pull xblock translations via atlas
 	python manage.py cms compile_xblock_translations
 
 clean_translations: ## Remove existing translations to prepare for a fresh pull
-	git clean -fdX conf/locale  # Removes core edx-platform translations but keeps Esperanto (eo) test translations
+	# Removes core edx-platform translations but keeps config files and Esperanto (eo) test translations
+	cd conf/locale && find . -type d -a ! -path . -a ! -path ./eo ! -path ./eo/* -exec rm -rf {} +
 	# Removes the xblocks/plugins and js-compiled translations
 	rm -rf conf/plugins-locale cms/static/js/i18n/ lms/static/js/i18n/ cms/static/js/xblock.v1-i18n/ lms/static/js/xblock.v1-i18n/