diff --git a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
index 4f1269cb351..70b7854c1a9 100755
--- a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
+++ b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.pl
@@ -2129,6 +2129,16 @@ sub remove_stale_vardir () {
       mtr_verbose("Removing $opt_vardir/");
       rmtree("$opt_vardir/");
     }
+
+    if ( $opt_mem )
+    {
+      # A symlink from var/ to $opt_mem will be set up
+      # remove the $opt_mem dir to assure the symlink
+      # won't point at an old directory
+      mtr_verbose("Removing $opt_mem");
+      rmtree($opt_mem);
+    }
+
   }
   else
   {