diff --git a/test/doc/CMakeLists.txt b/test/doc/CMakeLists.txt
index eefba9d2c..d5d83994e 100644
--- a/test/doc/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/test/doc/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ tribits_add_advanced_test( build_sphinx_docs
     GIT_EXECUTABLE
   OVERALL_NUM_MPI_PROCS 1
   TEST_0 MESSAGE "Clean out any prior build of the docs"
-    CMND ${GIT_EXECUTABLE} ARGS clean -xdf
+    CMND ${GIT_EXECUTABLE} ARGS clean -xdf -- .
     WORKING_DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/tribits/doc
     SKIP_CLEAN_WORKING_DIRECTORY  # Don't delete our source tree!
   TEST_1 MESSAGE "Build the sphinx documentation"