diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index baaf094597..52413e3fa9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -155,10 +155,9 @@ endif
 
 proto-gen: check-proto-deps
 	@echo "Generating Protobuf files"
-	@go run github.com/bufbuild/buf/cmd/buf@$(BUF_VERSION) generate
+	@go run github.com/bufbuild/buf/cmd/buf@$(BUF_VERSION) generate --exclude-path proto/nmt
 	@mv ./proto/tendermint/abci/types.pb.go ./abci/types/
 	@cp ./proto/tendermint/rpc/grpc/types.pb.go ./rpc/grpc
-	@rm ./proto/nmt/proof.pb.go
 .PHONY: proto-gen
 
 # These targets are provided for convenience and are intended for local