diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
index cf99b18..00497ab 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -324,7 +324,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Clean stale Alpine packages
         run: |
           rm -f releases/linux-patch-api-*.apk 2>/dev/null || true
-          rm -rf /home/builduser/packages/ 2>/dev/null || true
+          rm -f /home/builduser/packages/home/x86_64/linux-patch-api-*.apk 2>/dev/null || true
+          mkdir -p /home/builduser/packages/home/x86_64/
       - name: Build Alpine package
         run: |
           chmod +x build-alpine.sh
diff --git a/build-alpine.sh b/build-alpine.sh
index 24ab1d0..4153c14 100644
--- a/build-alpine.sh
+++ b/build-alpine.sh
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ echo ""
 
 # Clean stale packages from previous builds
 rm -f releases/linux-patch-api-*.apk 2>/dev/null || true
-rm -rf /home/builduser/packages/home/x86_64/ 2>/dev/null || true
-rm -rf /home/builduser/packages/ 2>/dev/null || true
+rm -f /home/builduser/packages/home/x86_64/linux-patch-api-*.apk 2>/dev/null || true
+# Ensure abuild output directory exists
+mkdir -p /home/builduser/packages/home/x86_64/
 
 # Source cargo environment (for rustup-installed toolchain in CI)
 if [ -f "$HOME/.cargo/env" ]; then