diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ad06a573ee..abcc8dc129 100755
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 app/cache/*
 !app/cache/.gitkeep
+!app/cache/.htaccess
 
 app/logs/*
 !app/logs/.gitkeep
diff --git a/app/cache/.htaccess b/app/cache/.htaccess
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ddc33ea791
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/cache/.htaccess
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+php_flag engine off
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main/admin/archive_cleanup.php b/main/admin/archive_cleanup.php
index 8d26b03d2f..af1f34b492 100755
--- a/main/admin/archive_cleanup.php
+++ b/main/admin/archive_cleanup.php
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ if ($form->validate()) {
     }
 
     $archive_path = api_get_path(SYS_ARCHIVE_PATH);
-    $htaccess = @file_get_contents($archive_path.'.htaccess');
+    $htaccess = 'php_flag engine off';
     $result = rmdirr($archive_path, true, true);
     if (false === $result) {
         Display::addFlash(Display::return_message(get_lang('ArchiveDirCleanupFailed'), 'error'));