diff --git a/Makefile.pre.in b/Makefile.pre.in
index 8ee44bfc0adb6a..51c31b94aea876 100644
--- a/Makefile.pre.in
+++ b/Makefile.pre.in
@@ -1898,7 +1898,7 @@ rmtestturds:
 	-rm -f gb-18030-2000.xml
 
 docclean:
-	$(MAKE) -C Doc clean
+	$(MAKE) -C $(srcdir)/Doc clean
 
 # like the 'clean' target but retain the profile guided optimization (PGO)
 # data.  The PGO data is only valid if source code remains unchanged.
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2022-11-02-18-45-35.gh-issue-97731.zKpTlj.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2022-11-02-18-45-35.gh-issue-97731.zKpTlj.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..46b1fb833d4722
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2022-11-02-18-45-35.gh-issue-97731.zKpTlj.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Specify the full path to the source location for ``make docclean`` (needed for
+cross-builds).