diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
index 91faa494ca..9b550ef3f1 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
@@ -1249,6 +1249,7 @@ def edit_bblayers_conf(bblayers_conf, add, remove):
                     bblayers.append(addlayer)
                 else:
                     notadded.append(addlayer)
+            del addlayers[:]
 
         if updated:
             return (bblayers, None, 2, False)