diff --git a/packaging/debian_scripts/publish_debian_cern.sh b/packaging/debian_scripts/publish_debian_cern.sh
index cd8b427cc92..204914cec25 100755
--- a/packaging/debian_scripts/publish_debian_cern.sh
+++ b/packaging/debian_scripts/publish_debian_cern.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,15 @@ for dist in artful xenial; do
   (cd $prefix && apt-ftparchive --arch amd64 packages pool/$dist/$comp/ > dists/$dist/$comp/binary-amd64/Packages);
   gzip -c $prefix/dists/$dist/$comp/binary-amd64/Packages > $prefix/dists/$dist/$comp/binary-amd64/Packages.gz;
   components=$(find $prefix/dists/$dist/ -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type d -exec basename {} \; | tr '\n' ' ')
-  rm $prefix/dists/$dist/Release $prefix/dists/$dist/InRelease $prefix/dists/$dist/Release.gpg
+  if [ -e $prefix/dists/$dist/Release ]; then
+    rm $prefix/dists/$dist/Release
+  fi
+  if [ -e $prefix/dists/$dist/InRelease ]; then
+    rm $prefix/dists/$dist/InRelease
+  fi
+  if [ -e $prefix/dists/$dist/Release.gpg ]; then
+    rm $prefix/dists/$dist/Release.gpg
+  fi
   apt-ftparchive -o APT::FTPArchive::Release::Origin=CERN -o APT::FTPArchive::Release::Label=XrootD -o APT::FTPArchive::Release::Codename=artful -o APT::FTPArchive::Release::Architectures=amd64 -o APT::FTPArchive::Release::Components="$components" release $prefix/dists/$dist/ > $prefix/dists/$dist/Release;
   gpg --homedir /home/stci/ --clearsign -o $prefix/dists/$dist/InRelease $prefix/dists/$dist/Release;
   gpg --homedir /home/stci/ -abs -o $prefix/dists/$dist/Release.gpg $prefix/dists/$dist/Release;