diff --git a/lib/Makefile.in b/lib/Makefile.in
index 51f740a344..c10f7f92d7 100644
--- a/lib/Makefile.in
+++ b/lib/Makefile.in
@@ -27,8 +27,3 @@ SUBDIRS =	isc isccc dns isccfg bind9 lwres irs tests samples
 TARGETS =
 
 @BIND9_MAKE_RULES@
-
-distclean::
-	@echo "making $@ in `pwd`/irs"; \
-	(cd irs; ${MAKE} ${MAKEDEFS} DESTDIR="${DESTDIR}" $@) || exit 1;
-