diff --git a/src/cmd/go/build.go b/src/cmd/go/build.go
index 9c3693abb3c..1846f745daf 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/build.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/build.go
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ func (b *builder) copyFile(a *action, dst, src string, perm os.FileMode) error {
 	if err != nil && toolIsWindows {
 		// Windows does not allow deletion of a binary file
 		// while it is executing.  Try to move it out of the way.
-		// If the remove fails, which is likely, we'll try again the
+		// If the move fails, which is likely, we'll try again the
 		// next time we do an install of this binary.
 		if err := os.Rename(dst, dst+"~"); err == nil {
 			os.Remove(dst + "~")
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/clean.go b/src/cmd/go/clean.go
index bfae967a76b..16687f72f70 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/clean.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/clean.go
@@ -237,7 +237,23 @@ func clean(p *Package) {
 // removeFile tries to remove file f, if error other than file doesn't exist
 // occurs, it will report the error.
 func removeFile(f string) {
-	if err := os.Remove(f); err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		errorf("go clean: %v", err)
+	err := os.Remove(f)
+	if err == nil || os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return
 	}
+	// Windows does not allow deletion of a binary file while it is executing.
+	if toolIsWindows {
+		// Remove lingering ~ file from last attempt.
+		if _, err2 := os.Stat(f + "~"); err2 == nil {
+			os.Remove(f + "~")
+		}
+		// Try to move it out of the way. If the move fails,
+		// which is likely, we'll try again the
+		// next time we do an install of this binary.
+		if err2 := os.Rename(f, f+"~"); err2 == nil {
+			os.Remove(f + "~")
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	errorf("go clean: %v", err)
 }