diff --git a/r/src/Makevars.in b/r/src/Makevars.in
index 44bc24c887f..7a09d6cff3a 100644
--- a/r/src/Makevars.in
+++ b/r/src/Makevars.in
@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ PKG_LIBS=@libs@
 all: $(SHLIB) purify
 
 purify: $(SHLIB)
-	rm -rf ../libarrow || true
+	@rm -rf ../libarrow || true