diff --git a/ros_buildfarm/templates/release/deb/binarypkg_job.xml.em b/ros_buildfarm/templates/release/deb/binarypkg_job.xml.em
index 41e1ee362..d2134b13f 100644
--- a/ros_buildfarm/templates/release/deb/binarypkg_job.xml.em
+++ b/ros_buildfarm/templates/release/deb/binarypkg_job.xml.em
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ but disabled since the package is blacklisted (or not whitelisted) in the config
         'echo "# END SECTION"',
         '',
         'echo "# BEGIN SECTION: Run Dockerfile - binarydeb task"',
-        '# ensure to have write permission before trying to delete the folder',
-        'if [ -f $WORKSPACE/binarydeb ] ; then chmod -R u+w $WORKSPACE/binarydeb ; fi',
+        '# ensure to have write permission before trying to delete the directory',
+        'if [ -d $WORKSPACE/binarydeb ] ; then chmod -R u+w $WORKSPACE/binarydeb ; fi',
         'rm -fr $WORKSPACE/binarydeb',
         'rm -fr $WORKSPACE/docker_build_binarydeb',
         'mkdir -p $WORKSPACE/binarydeb',