diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
index 0d19d5447d6c..929a32ba15f5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ $(LIBTRACEEVENT)-clean:
 	$(call QUIET_CLEAN, libtraceevent)
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -C $(TRACE_EVENT_DIR) O=$(OUTPUT) clean >/dev/null
 
-install-traceevent-plugins: $(LIBTRACEEVENT)
+install-traceevent-plugins: libtraceevent_plugins
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -C $(TRACE_EVENT_DIR) $(LIBTRACEEVENT_FLAGS) O=$(OUTPUT) install_plugins
 
 $(LIBAPI): fixdep FORCE