diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile b/tools/perf/Makefile
index ac52598e0f5a..b5f5c6dd43e2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ FIND    = find
 INSTALL = install
 FLEX    = flex
 BISON   = bison
-STRIP  ?= strip
+STRIP   = strip
 
 LK_DIR          = $(srctree)/tools/lib/lk/
 TRACE_EVENT_DIR = $(srctree)/tools/lib/traceevent/