diff --git a/library/roles/clamav/tasks/main.yml b/library/roles/clamav/tasks/main.yml
index 78484ae9..16de66d4 100644
--- a/library/roles/clamav/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/library/roles/clamav/tasks/main.yml
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@
   - name: Ensure that the clamd service is running and enabled
     service: name=clamd@scan state=started enabled=yes
 
-  - name: Wipe some signature files that are broken.
-    copy: content="" dest={{ clamav_signatures_db_dir }}/{{ item }} force=yes
+  - name: Remove some signature files that are broken.
+    file: dest={{ clamav_signatures_db_dir }}/{{ item }} state=absent
     with_items: '{{ clamav_signatures_dbs_to_wipe }}'
     tags: [ 'clamav', 'clamav_clamd', 'clamav_config', 'clamav_signatures' ]
 
   - name: Install a cron job that wipes the wrong signature files, just in case they reappear after an update
-    cron: name="Wipe some clamav signature dbs that are broken" user=root special_time=hourly job="{% for db in clamav_signatures_dbs_to_wipe %}echo '' > {{ clamav_signatures_db_dir }}/{{ db }}{% if not loop.last %}; {% endif %}{% endfor %}"
+    cron: name="Wipe some clamav signature dbs that are broken" user=root special_time=hourly job="{% for db in clamav_signatures_dbs_to_wipe %}/bin/rm -f {{ clamav_signatures_db_dir }}/{{ db }}{% if not loop.last %}; {% endif %}{% endfor %}"
     tags: [ 'clamav', 'clamav_clamd', 'clamav_config', 'clamav_signatures' ]
 
   when: clamav_install | bool