diff --git a/tools/perf/config/Makefile b/tools/perf/config/Makefile
index 98c9fd174e98..58f609198c6d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/config/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/config/Makefile
@@ -653,11 +653,13 @@ else
 sysconfdir = $(prefix)/etc
 ETC_PERFCONFIG = etc/perfconfig
 endif
+ifndef lib
 ifeq ($(IS_X86_64),1)
 lib = lib64
 else
 lib = lib
 endif
+endif # lib
 libdir = $(prefix)/$(lib)
 
 # Shell quote (do not use $(call) to accommodate ancient setups);