diff --git a/appspec.yml b/appspec.yml
index a6455d55c..87a0f944a 100644
--- a/appspec.yml
+++ b/appspec.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ files:
   - destination: /home/notify-app/notifications-api
     source: /
 hooks:
+  BeforeInstall:
+    - location: scripts/aws_clear_instance.sh
+      runas: root
+      timeout: 1000
   AfterInstall:
     - location: scripts/aws_install_dependencies.sh
       runas: root
diff --git a/scripts/aws_clear_instance.sh b/scripts/aws_clear_instance.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..9cdc14568
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/aws_clear_instance.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+echo "Removing application and dependencies"
+
+if [ -d "/home/notify-app/notifications-api" ]; then
+    # Remove and re-create the directory
+    rm -rf /home/notify-app/notifications-api
+    mkdir -p /home/notify-app/notifications-api
+fi
+