diff --git a/src/tufup/client.py b/src/tufup/client.py
index 725aa85..595f730 100644
--- a/src/tufup/client.py
+++ b/src/tufup/client.py
@@ -184,6 +184,11 @@ def check_for_updates(
                 sys.exit()
             return None
         # check for new target files (archives and patches)
+        # look through all files  in self.current_archive_local_path.parent, and remove all that is not self.current_archive_local_path
+        # this is to save space
+        for file in self.current_archive_local_path.parent.iterdir():
+            if TargetMeta(file) < self.current_archive:
+                file.unlink()
         logger.debug(f'current archive: {self.current_archive.filename}')
         all_new_targets = dict(
             (target_meta, self.get_targetinfo(target_meta))