diff --git a/mesonbuild/mesonlib.py b/mesonbuild/mesonlib.py
index 6937502eb..415bc50a4 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/mesonlib.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/mesonlib.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 """A library of random helper functionality."""
 
 import stat
+import time
 import platform, subprocess, operator, os, shutil, re
 import collections
 
@@ -687,6 +688,22 @@ def get_filenames_templates_dict(inputs, outputs):
             values['@OUTDIR@'] = '.'
     return values
 
+
+def windows_proof_rmtree(f):
+    # On Windows if anyone is holding a file open you can't
+    # delete it. As an example an anti virus scanner might
+    # be scanning files you are trying to delete. The only
+    # way to fix this is to try again and again.
+    delays = [0.1, 0.1, 0.2, 0.2, 0.2, 0.5, 0.5, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2]
+    for d in delays:
+        try:
+            shutil.rmtree(f)
+            return
+        except (OSError, PermissionError):
+            time.sleep(d)
+    # Try one last time and throw if it fails.
+    shutil.rmtree(f)
+
 class OrderedSet(collections.MutableSet):
     """A set that preserves the order in which items are added, by first
     insertion.
diff --git a/mesonbuild/scripts/dist.py b/mesonbuild/scripts/dist.py
index f17b29653..064708ed0 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/scripts/dist.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/scripts/dist.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import tarfile, zipfile
 import tempfile
 from glob import glob
 from mesonbuild.environment import detect_ninja
+from mesonbuild.mesonlib import windows_proof_rmtree
 
 def create_hash(fname):
     hashname = fname + '.sha256sum'
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ def create_zip(zipfilename, packaging_dir):
 def del_gitfiles(dirname):
     for f in glob(os.path.join(dirname, '.git*')):
         if os.path.isdir(f) and not os.path.islink(f):
-            shutil.rmtree(f)
+            windows_proof_rmtree(f)
         else:
             os.unlink(f)
 
diff --git a/run_project_tests.py b/run_project_tests.py
index 7f7cfdc00..822286b08 100755
--- a/run_project_tests.py
+++ b/run_project_tests.py
@@ -114,24 +114,11 @@ class AutoDeletedDir:
         return self.dir
 
     def __exit__(self, _type, value, traceback):
-        # On Windows, shutil.rmtree fails sometimes, because 'the directory is not empty'.
-        # Retrying fixes this.
-        # That's why we don't use tempfile.TemporaryDirectory, but wrap the deletion in the AutoDeletedDir class.
-        retries = 5
-        for i in range(0, retries):
-            try:
-                shutil.rmtree(self.dir)
-                return
-            # Sometimes we get: ValueError: I/O operation on closed file.
-            except ValueError:
-                return
-            # Deleting can raise OSError or PermissionError on Windows
-            # (most likely because of anti-virus locking the file)
-            except (OSError, PermissionError):
-                if i == retries - 1:
-                    mlog.warning('Could not delete temporary directory.')
-                    return
-                time.sleep(0.1 * (2**i))
+        # We don't use tempfile.TemporaryDirectory, but wrap the
+        # deletion in the AutoDeletedDir class because
+        # it fails on Windows due antivirus programs
+        # holding files open.
+        mesonlib.windows_proof_rmtree(self.dir)
 
 failing_logs = []
 print_debug = 'MESON_PRINT_TEST_OUTPUT' in os.environ