diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/api/CloneCommand.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/api/CloneCommand.java
index 5c06bac1f..eee3da6f6 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/api/CloneCommand.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/api/CloneCommand.java
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@ public class CloneCommand extends TransportCommand<CloneCommand, Git> {
 					FileUtils.delete(gitDir, FileUtils.RECURSIVE
 							| FileUtils.SKIP_MISSING | FileUtils.IGNORE_ERRORS);
 				} else {
-					deleteChildren(directory);
+					deleteChildren(gitDir);
 				}
 			}
 		} catch (IOException e) {