diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a85a5d585..4a18930af 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1365,6 +1365,13 @@ IF(NOT OSG_CONFIG_HAS_BEEN_RUN_BEFORE)
     SET(OSG_CONFIG_HAS_BEEN_RUN_BEFORE 1 CACHE INTERNAL "Flag to track whether this is the first time running CMake or if CMake has been configured before")
 ENDIF()
 
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# add clobber build target to clear all the non git registered files/directories
+#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+add_custom_target(clobber
+    COMMAND git clean -d -f -x
+)
+
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ### uninstall target
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------