diff --git a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/default.nix b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/default.nix
index 30a88bf3d19..dc61bf83796 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/compilers/openjdk/default.nix
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
   '';
 
   configurePhase = ''
-    make sanity
+    make MKDIR=${coreutils}/bin/mkdir sanity
   '';
 }