find -name ".#*1.*" | xargs rm -f That's invalid fine syntax on classic commands. There's no directory named there. Although the OSX response is pretty ridiculous: find -name ".#*1.*" | xargs rm -f find: illegal option -- n find: illegal option -- a find: illegal option -- m find: illegal option -- e find: .#*1.*: No such file or directory It kills the distclean. ron