diff --git a/config/rules.mk b/config/rules.mk
index c6b6d742af4..38f6a90f396 100644
--- a/config/rules.mk
+++ b/config/rules.mk
@@ -998,6 +998,7 @@ alltags:
 # creates OBJS, links with LIBS to create Foo
 #
 $(PROGRAM): $(PROGOBJS) $(LIBS_DEPS) $(EXTRA_DEPS) $(EXE_DEF_FILE) $(RESFILE) $(GLOBAL_DEPS)
+	@rm -f $@.manifest
 ifeq (WINCE,$(OS_ARCH))
 	$(LD) -NOLOGO -OUT:$@ $(WIN32_EXE_LDFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $(PROGOBJS) $(RESFILE) $(LIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(OS_LIBS)
 else
@@ -1006,11 +1007,15 @@ ifeq (_WINNT,$(GNU_CC)_$(OS_ARCH))
 ifdef MSMANIFEST_TOOL
 	@if test -f $@.manifest; then \
 		if test -f "$(srcdir)/$@.manifest"; then \
+			echo "Embedding manifest from $(srcdir)/$@.manifest and $@.manifest"; \
 			mt.exe -NOLOGO -MANIFEST "$(win_srcdir)/$@.manifest" $@.manifest -OUTPUTRESOURCE:$@\;1; \
 		else \
+			echo "Embedding manifest from $@.manifest"; \
 			mt.exe -NOLOGO -MANIFEST $@.manifest -OUTPUTRESOURCE:$@\;1; \
 		fi; \
-		rm -f $@.manifest; \
+	elif test -f "$(srcdir)/$@.manifest"; then \
+		echo "Embedding manifest from $(srcdir)/$@.manifest"; \
+		mt.exe -NOLOGO -MANIFEST "$(win_srcdir)/$@.manifest" -OUTPUTRESOURCE:$@\;1; \
 	fi
 endif	# MSVC with manifest tool
 ifdef MOZ_PROFILE_GENERATE