diff --git a/python/setup.py b/python/setup.py
index b0cbd5b1e..bca6b5bb3 100644
--- a/python/setup.py
+++ b/python/setup.py
@@ -51,9 +51,6 @@ def build_extension(self, ext):
     # For @pybind11_bazel's `python_configure()`.
     os.environ['PYTHON_BIN_PATH'] = sys.executable
 
-    cmd = ['bazel', 'clean', '--expunge']
-    self.spawn(cmd)
-
     cmd = ['bazel', 'build']
     if 'BAZEL_CPU' in os.environ:
       cmd.append(f'--cpu={os.environ["BAZEL_CPU"].lower()}')
@@ -65,6 +62,9 @@ def build_extension(self, ext):
     shutil.copyfile('../bazel-bin/python/_re2.so',
                     self.get_ext_fullpath(ext.name))
 
+    cmd = ['bazel', 'clean', '--expunge']
+    self.spawn(cmd)
+
 
 def include_dirs():
   try: