diff --git a/dev-server b/dev-server
index 9929b74c2..a7a5c75a1 100755
--- a/dev-server
+++ b/dev-server
@@ -182,6 +182,9 @@ unless ($opt_staticres) {
     $ENV{CAMLI_DEV_UI_FILES} = "$FindBin::Bin/server/camlistored/ui"; # set in server/camlistored/ui/fileembed.go
     $ENV{CAMLI_DEV_NEWUI_FILES} = "$FindBin::Bin/server/camlistored/newui"; # set in server/camlistored/newui/fileembed.go
     unless ($opt_offline) {
+        if (-e "$Bin/tmp/closure-lib/.svn") {
+            system("rm", "-rf", "$Bin/tmp/closure-lib") and die "Failed to remove the svn checkout of the closure-lib.\n";
+        }
         get_closure_lib();
         get_closure_compiler();
         chdir $Bin or die;