diff --git a/examples/server/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/server/CMakeLists.txt
index 63fca1d59..0035859a6 100644
--- a/examples/server/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/server/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,14 @@ endforeach()
 add_executable(${TARGET} ${TARGET_SRCS})
 install(TARGETS ${TARGET} RUNTIME)
 
+# clean up generated files in pre-build step
+foreach(asset ${PUBLIC_ASSETS})
+    set(output "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${asset}.hpp")
+    add_custom_command(TARGET ${TARGET} PRE_BUILD
+        COMMAND "${CMAKE_COMMAND}" -E remove -f "${output}"
+    )
+endforeach()
+
 target_link_libraries(${TARGET} PRIVATE common ${CMAKE_THREAD_LIBS_INIT})
 
 if (LLAMA_SERVER_SSL)