diff --git a/calendar-export.plx b/calendar-export.plx
index 7f35063..9399844 100755
--- a/calendar-export.plx
+++ b/calendar-export.plx
@@ -549,9 +549,15 @@ $config->{emacsBinary} = "/usr/bin/emacs" if not defined $config->{emacsBinary};
 $config->{calendarStyle} = 'plain' if not defined $config->{calendarStyle};
 DieLog("$config->{emacsBinary} doesn't appear to be executable") unless -x $config->{emacsBinary};
 
+if (defined $config->{cleanOutputDirFirst} and $config->{cleanOutputDirFirst}) {
+  chdir $config->{outputDir} or die "unable to change directory to $config->{outputDir} $? $!";
+  system("/bin/rm", '-f', "*.ics");
+}
+
 DieLog("$CONFIG_FILE doesn't specify a (readable) output directory via outputDir setting: $!")
   unless defined $config->{outputDir} and -d $config->{outputDir};
 
+
 DieLog("$CONFIG_FILE doesn't specify a readable public nor a private diary file")
   unless (defined $config->{publicDiary} and -r $config->{publicDiary}) or
     (defined $config->{privateyDiary} and -r $config->{privateDiary});