diff --git a/shell/projectcontroller.cpp b/shell/projectcontroller.cpp
--- a/shell/projectcontroller.cpp
+++ b/shell/projectcontroller.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 
 #include <KActionCollection>
 #include <KConfigGroup>
+#include <KIO/DeleteJob>
 #include <KIO/FileCopyJob>
 #include <KIO/ListJob>
 #include <KIO/StatJob>
@@ -486,6 +487,11 @@
     }
 
     if (writeProjectConfigToFile) {
+        Path projectConfigDir = Path(projectFileUrl);
+        projectConfigDir.setLastPathSegment(QStringLiteral(".kdev4"));
+        auto delJob = KIO::del(projectConfigDir.toUrl());
+        delJob->exec();
+
         if (!writeProjectSettingsToConfigFile(projectFileUrl, &dlg)) {
             KMessageBox::error(d->m_core->uiControllerInternal()->defaultMainWindow(),
                 i18n("Unable to create configuration file %1", projectFileUrl.url()));