diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index e978fa093..e7ddb6a24 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@ jobs:
             pushd metacpan-docker
             docker-compose exec -T api_test cpm install -g Devel::Cover
           name: install Devel::Cover
+      - run:
+          name: clean up coverage data
+          command: |
+            pushd metacpan-docker/src/metacpan-api
+            rm -rf cover_db
       - run:
           command: |
             pushd metacpan-docker