diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 75b9ad3b48..b284eb20aa 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1973,6 +1973,7 @@ GIT-PERL-DEFINES: FORCE
 		echo "$$FLAGS" >$@; \
 	    fi
 
+.PHONY: perllibdir
 perllibdir:
 	@echo '$(perllibdir_SQ)'