diff --git a/awx/playbooks/project_update.yml b/awx/playbooks/project_update.yml
index e1ee22993d..6d90b8d586 100644
--- a/awx/playbooks/project_update.yml
+++ b/awx/playbooks/project_update.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@
   tasks:
 
     - name: delete project directory before update
-      command: "rm -rf {{project_path}}/*"  # volume mounted, cannot delete folder itself
+      command: "find -delete"  # volume mounted, cannot delete folder itself
+      args:
+        chdir: "{{ project_path }}"
       tags:
         - delete