diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 6a21bf2a1f..02bda640cf 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ TMPC="${TMPDIR1}/qemu-conf-${RANDOM}-$$-${RANDOM}.c"
 TMPO="${TMPDIR1}/qemu-conf-${RANDOM}-$$-${RANDOM}.o"
 TMPE="${TMPDIR1}/qemu-conf-${RANDOM}-$$-${RANDOM}.exe"
 
-trap "rm -f $TMPC $TMPO $TMPE ; exit" EXIT INT QUIT TERM
+# NB: do not call "exit" in the trap handler; this is buggy with some shells;
+# see <1285349658-3122-1-git-send-email-loic.minier@linaro.org>
+trap "rm -f $TMPC $TMPO $TMPE" EXIT INT QUIT TERM
 
 compile_object() {
   $cc $QEMU_CFLAGS -c -o $TMPO $TMPC > /dev/null 2> /dev/null