diff --git a/gnu/packages/linux.scm b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
index 1099da6fb1..652b7d3507 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/linux.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/linux.scm
@@ -2506,7 +2506,7 @@ (define-public perf
              (setenv "SHELL_PATH" (which "bash"))
              (chdir "tools/perf")
              #t)))
-       #:make-flags (list (string-append "DESTDIR="
+       #:make-flags (list (string-append "prefix="
                                          (assoc-ref %outputs "out"))
                           "WERROR=0"