diff --git a/scripts/run_local.sh b/scripts/run_local.sh
index 4b8d4b5..753c300 100755
--- a/scripts/run_local.sh
+++ b/scripts/run_local.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ set -e
 OUT=output/local
 
 # clear output dir
-rm -r "$OUT"
+[ -d "$OUT" ] && rm -r "$OUT"
 
 # run component
 NXF_VER=23.10.0 nextflow run \
diff --git a/scripts/run_local_with_remote.sh b/scripts/run_local_with_remote.sh
index 5c6f61f..c2bbe4b 100755
--- a/scripts/run_local_with_remote.sh
+++ b/scripts/run_local_with_remote.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ set -e
 OUT=output/local_with_remote
 
 # clear output dir
-rm -r "$OUT"
+[ -d "$OUT" ] && rm -r "$OUT"
 
 # run component
 NXF_VER=23.10.0 nextflow run \