diff --git a/swh/loader/core/utils.py b/swh/loader/core/utils.py
index ce9e0c6..bcb5f98 100644
--- a/swh/loader/core/utils.py
+++ b/swh/loader/core/utils.py
@@ -1,47 +1,47 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2018  The Software Heritage developers
 # See the AUTHORS file at the top-level directory of this distribution
 # License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
 
 import os
 import shutil
 import psutil
 
 
 def clean_dangling_folders(dirpath, pattern_check, log=None):
     """Clean up potential dangling temporary working folder rooted at
        `dirpath`. Those folders must match a dedicated pattern and not
        belonging to a live pid.
 
     Args:
         dirpath (str): Path to check for dangling files
         pattern_check (str): A dedicated pattern to check on first
         level directory (e.g `swh.loader.mercurial.`,
         `swh.loader.svn.`)
         log (Logger): Optional logger
 
     """
     if not os.path.exists(dirpath):
         return
     for filename in os.listdir(dirpath):
+        path_to_cleanup = os.path.join(dirpath, filename)
         try:
             # pattern: `swh.loader.svn-pid.{noise}`
             if (
                 pattern_check not in filename or "-" not in filename
             ):  # silently ignore unknown patterns
                 continue
             _, pid = filename.split("-")
             pid = int(pid.split(".")[0])
             if psutil.pid_exists(pid):
                 if log:
                     log.debug("PID %s is live, skipping" % pid)
                 continue
-            path_to_cleanup = os.path.join(dirpath, filename)
             # could be removed concurrently, so check before removal
             if os.path.exists(path_to_cleanup):
                 shutil.rmtree(path_to_cleanup)
         except Exception as e:
             if log:
                 msg = "Fail to clean dangling path %s: %s" % (path_to_cleanup, e)
                 log.warn(msg)