diff --git a/r/src/Makevars.in b/r/src/Makevars.in
index 0516d297263..44bc24c887f 100644
--- a/r/src/Makevars.in
+++ b/r/src/Makevars.in
@@ -27,3 +27,8 @@ PKG_CPPFLAGS=@cflags@
 # PKG_CXXFLAGS=$(CXX_VISIBILITY)
 CXX_STD=CXX17
 PKG_LIBS=@libs@
+
+all: $(SHLIB) purify
+
+purify: $(SHLIB)
+	rm -rf ../libarrow || true