diff --git a/tools/devops/automation/templates/build/build.yml b/tools/devops/automation/templates/build/build.yml
index 7f9459e2bef4..972f3a0180b6 100644
--- a/tools/devops/automation/templates/build/build.yml
+++ b/tools/devops/automation/templates/build/build.yml
@@ -111,6 +111,18 @@ steps:
   timeoutInMinutes: 30
   enabled: true
 
+# was the current xcode deleted (has happened due to a bug in the clean step)? then set the default so 
+# that we can call make and generated the provisionator config files.
+- bash: |
+    XCODE_SELECT=$(xcode-select -p)
+    if [[ -d $XCODE_SELECT ]]; then
+      echo "Using Xcode in path $XCODE_SELECT"
+    else
+      echo "Setting Xcode to point to the default location."
+      xcode-select -s "/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer"
+    fi
+  displayName: 'Ensure Xcode is selected.'
+
 - bash: |
     make -C $(Build.SourcesDirectory)/xamarin-macios/tools/devops build-provisioning.csx
   displayName: 'Generate provisionator files.'