diff --git a/cron.daily/mlocate b/cron.daily/mlocate
index cf42104..7f3252e 100644
--- a/cron.daily/mlocate
+++ b/cron.daily/mlocate
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ if [ -x /usr/bin/ionice ] && /usr/bin/ionice -c3 true 2>/dev/null; then
 	/usr/bin/ionice -c${IONICE_CLASS:-2} -n${IONICE_PRIORITY:-7} -p $$ > /dev/null 2>&1
 fi
 
+# Cleanup old temp files from previous unsuccessful runs
+rm -f /var/lib/mlocate/mlocate.db.*
+
 # run the updatedb if possible
 if [ -x /usr/bin/updatedb ]; then
 	/usr/bin/updatedb -f "${NODEVS}"
diff --git a/cron.weekly/mlocate b/cron.weekly/mlocate
index cf42104..7f3252e 100755
--- a/cron.weekly/mlocate
+++ b/cron.weekly/mlocate
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ if [ -x /usr/bin/ionice ] && /usr/bin/ionice -c3 true 2>/dev/null; then
 	/usr/bin/ionice -c${IONICE_CLASS:-2} -n${IONICE_PRIORITY:-7} -p $$ > /dev/null 2>&1
 fi
 
+# Cleanup old temp files from previous unsuccessful runs
+rm -f /var/lib/mlocate/mlocate.db.*
+
 # run the updatedb if possible
 if [ -x /usr/bin/updatedb ]; then
 	/usr/bin/updatedb -f "${NODEVS}"