diff --git a/cylc/flow/job_runner_mgr.py b/cylc/flow/job_runner_mgr.py
index b8ddaaa053..558a3d158b 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/job_runner_mgr.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/job_runner_mgr.py
@@ -373,14 +373,15 @@ def job_kill(self, st_file_path):
 
     @classmethod
     def _create_nn(cls, job_file_path):
-        """Create NN symbolic link, if necessary.
+        """Create NN symbolic link if necessary, and remove any old job logs.
+
+        If NN => 01, remove numbered dirs with submit numbers greater than 01.
 
-        If NN => 01, remove numbered directories with submit numbers greater
-        than 01.
         Helper for "self._job_submit_impl".
 
         """
         job_file_dir = os.path.dirname(job_file_path)
+
         source = os.path.basename(job_file_dir)
         task_log_dir = os.path.dirname(job_file_dir)
         nn_path = os.path.join(task_log_dir, "NN")
@@ -393,6 +394,7 @@ def _create_nn(cls, job_file_path):
             old_source = None
         if old_source is None:
             os.symlink(source, nn_path)
+
         # On submit 1, remove any left over digit directories from prev runs
         if source == "01":
             for name in os.listdir(task_log_dir):
@@ -401,6 +403,11 @@ def _create_nn(cls, job_file_path):
                     rmtree(
                         os.path.join(task_log_dir, name), ignore_errors=True)
 
+        # Delete old job logs if necessary
+        for name in JOB_LOG_ERR, JOB_LOG_OUT:
+            with suppress(FileNotFoundError):
+                os.unlink(os.path.join(job_file_dir, name))
+
     @classmethod
     def _filter_submit_output(cls, st_file_path, job_runner, out, err):
         """Filter submit command output, if relevant."""
@@ -567,9 +574,6 @@ def _job_submit_impl(
 
         # Create NN symbolic link, if necessary
         self._create_nn(job_file_path)
-        for name in JOB_LOG_ERR, JOB_LOG_OUT:
-            with suppress(OSError):
-                os.unlink(os.path.join(job_file_path, name))
 
         # Start new status file
         with open(f"{job_file_path}.status", "w") as job_status_file:
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_job_runner_mgr.py b/tests/integration/test_job_runner_mgr.py
index 39db087f7b..35858ebbd4 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_job_runner_mgr.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_job_runner_mgr.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 from cylc.flow.pathutil import get_workflow_run_job_dir
 from cylc.flow.task_state import TASK_STATUS_RUNNING
 from cylc.flow.subprocctx import SubProcContext
+from cylc.flow.task_job_logs import JOB_LOG_OUT, JOB_LOG_ERR
 
 
 async def test_kill_error(one, start, test_dir, capsys, log_filter):
@@ -82,3 +83,53 @@ async def test_kill_error(one, start, test_dir, capsys, log_filter):
             level=logging.WARNING,
         )
         assert itask.state(TASK_STATUS_RUNNING)
+
+
+async def test_create_nn_new(one, start):
+    """Test _create_nn.
+
+    It should create the NN symlink.
+    """
+    async with start(one):
+        itask = one.pool.get_tasks()[0]
+
+        workflow_job_log_dir = Path(get_workflow_run_job_dir(one.workflow))
+        job_id = itask.tokens.duplicate(job='01').relative_id
+        job_log_dir = Path(workflow_job_log_dir, job_id)
+        job_log_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+
+        # call _create_nn
+        JobRunnerManager()._create_nn(job_log_dir / 'job')
+
+        # check the symlink exists
+        assert (job_log_dir.parent / "NN").is_symlink()
+
+
+async def test_create_nn_old(one, start):
+    """Test _create_nn.
+
+    It should remove existing job logs, if the dir already exists.
+    """
+    async with start(one):
+        itask = one.pool.get_tasks()[0]
+
+        # fake some old job logs
+        workflow_job_log_dir = Path(get_workflow_run_job_dir(one.workflow))
+        job_id = itask.tokens.duplicate(job='01').relative_id
+        job_log_dir = Path(workflow_job_log_dir, job_id)
+        job_log_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+
+        job_logs = []
+        for name in JOB_LOG_OUT, JOB_LOG_ERR:
+            job_logs.append(job_log_dir / name)
+
+        # create the logs
+        for job_log in job_logs:
+            job_log.touch()
+
+        # call _create_nn
+        JobRunnerManager()._create_nn(job_log_dir / 'job')
+
+        # check they were removed
+        for job_log in job_logs:
+            assert not job_log.is_file()