diff --git a/tools/perf/config/utilities.mak b/tools/perf/config/utilities.mak
index 4d985e0f03f5..7076a62d0ff7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/config/utilities.mak
+++ b/tools/perf/config/utilities.mak
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ endef
 #
 # Usage: bool-value = $(call is-absolute,path)
 #
-is-absolute = $(shell echo $(shell-sq) | grep ^/ -q && echo y)
+is-absolute = $(shell echo $(shell-sq) | grep -q ^/ && echo y)
 
 # lookup
 #