diff -rupN library.orig/P4/ClientPool/ClientPool.php library/P4/ClientPool/ClientPool.php
--- library.orig/P4/ClientPool/ClientPool.php	2016-07-27 09:34:48.000000000 +0000
+++ library/P4/ClientPool/ClientPool.php	2016-07-27 09:36:23.000000000 +0000
@@ -281,6 +281,9 @@ class ClientPool extends ConnectedAbstra
             }
         }
 
+        // clear files if needed
+        if ($clearFiles) { $this->clearFiles($p4); }
+
         // force the client to have current/correct settings
         $data = $p4->run('client', array('-o', $client))->expandSequences()->getData(-1);
         $p4->run(
@@ -297,8 +300,7 @@ class ClientPool extends ConnectedAbstra
         // ensure the root folder and lock file exist
         is_dir($root) ?: mkdir($root);
 
-        // clear files if needed and return
-        return $clearFiles ? $this->clearFiles($p4) : $this;
+        return $this;
     }
 
     /**