A method of forming a photolithographic mask for use in fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a layer of photoresist material on a wafer and exposing the photoresist material to a light source. The photoresist material is developed, and before the wafer dries, the wafer is cleaned with one or more cleaning liquids. The cleaning liquid may be a surfactant, an acid, a dissolved gas solution (e.g., CO2, SO2, SO3, NH3, NO2, or the like), deionized water, or the like. Thereafter, the wafer is dried. The wafer may be dried, for example, by a spin dry process, a gas purge process using, for example, compressed dry air, N2, CO2, Ar, or the like, or a drying alcohol such as IPA vapor. The method of the present invention decreases the toppling of the photoresist layer pattern.