diff --git a/src/sage_docbuild/conf.py b/src/sage_docbuild/conf.py
index 88cd836b52c..82090e37db2 100644
--- a/src/sage_docbuild/conf.py
+++ b/src/sage_docbuild/conf.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import sys
 import os
 import re
+import shutil
 import importlib
 import dateutil.parser
 import sphinx
@@ -927,7 +928,8 @@ def clean_jupyter_execute(app, exception):
     for debugging and hence we don't remove it.
     """
     if exception is None:  # only proceed if there were no build errors
-        jupyter_execute_path = os.path.join(app.outdir, 'jupyter_execute')
+        # path according to jupyter_sphinx.utils.output_directory
+        jupyter_execute_path = os.path.join(app.outdir, os.path.pardir, 'jupyter_execute')
         if os.path.exists(jupyter_execute_path):
             shutil.rmtree(jupyter_execute_path)