diff --git a/site/plugin.jelly b/site/plugin.jelly
index 447fe21c..65d1b6d4 100644
--- a/site/plugin.jelly
+++ b/site/plugin.jelly
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@
     <j:set var="destSiteAddress" value="${pom.siteAddress}" />
     <j:set var="destSiteDirectory" value="${pom.siteDirectory}" />
     <j:set var="destSiteUsername" value="${maven.username}" />
+    <j:set var="publishClean" value="${maven.site.publish.clean}" />
 
     <echo>
       source site address: ${siteAddress}
@@ -241,6 +242,7 @@
       destination site address: ${destSiteAddress}
       destination site directory: ${destSiteDirectory}
       destination site username: ${destSiteUsername}
+      publish clean: ${publishClean}
     </echo>
 
     <j:if test="${siteAddress == destSiteAddress and
@@ -253,7 +255,7 @@
     <j:choose>
       <j:when test="${deployMethod == 'fs'}">
         <echo>Executing filesystem copy on local server to publish</echo>
-        <j:if test="${siteClean}">
+        <j:if test="${publishClean}">
           <echo>Cleaning destination first</echo>
           <delete dir="${destSiteDirectory}" />
         </j:if>
@@ -264,7 +266,7 @@
       </j:when>
       <j:when test="${siteAddress == destSiteAddress}">
         <echo>Executing filesystem copy on remote server to publish</echo>
-        <j:if test="${siteClean}">
+        <j:if test="${publishClean}">
           <echo>Cleaning destination first</echo>
           <exec dir="." executable="${maven.ssh.executable}">
             <arg line="${siteUsername}@${siteAddress} 'rm -r ${destSiteDirectory}'" />
@@ -277,7 +279,7 @@
       <j:otherwise>
         <echo>Executing rsync on stage server to publish to live server</echo>
         <j:set var="rsyncArgs" value="${maven.rsync.args}" />
-        <j:if test="${siteClean}">
+        <j:if test="${publishClean}">
           <echo>Cleaning destination</echo>
           <j:set var="rsyncArgs" value="${rsyncArgs} --delete" />
         </j:if>
diff --git a/site/plugin.properties b/site/plugin.properties
index 6f9e8db3..37cdd894 100644
--- a/site/plugin.properties
+++ b/site/plugin.properties
@@ -35,3 +35,4 @@ maven.rsync.executable=rsync
 maven.username=USERNAME_NOT_SET
 
 maven.site.deploy.clean=false
+maven.site.publish.clean=false
diff --git a/site/xdocs/properties.xml b/site/xdocs/properties.xml
index f7309481..044d5b1c 100644
--- a/site/xdocs/properties.xml
+++ b/site/xdocs/properties.xml
@@ -55,10 +55,18 @@
           <td>maven.site.deploy.clean</td>
           <td>Yes</td>
           <td>
-            This will ensure the target in either a <code>site:deploy</code> or <code>site:publish</code> goal is
+            This will ensure the target in a <code>site:deploy</code> goal is
             clean by either deleting the directory first, or rsync'ing with the <code>--delete</code> option.
-            This operation is not atomic, so is not recommended for the live site unless you are using the rsync
-            method.
+            This operation is not atomic, so is not recommended for the live site unless you are using the rsync method.
+          </td>
+        </tr>
+        <tr>
+          <td>maven.site.publish.clean</td>
+          <td>Yes</td>
+          <td>
+            This will ensure the target in a <code>site:publish</code> goal is
+            clean by either deleting the directory first, or rsync'ing with the <code>--delete</code> option.
+            This operation is not atomic, so is not recommended for the live site unless you are using the rsync method.
           </td>
         </tr>
         <tr>