diff --git a/pkgs/tools/text/gawk/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/text/gawk/default.nix
index 7a5f6c8dd81..0d5a50570f5 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/text/gawk/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/text/gawk/default.nix
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     (if interactive then "--with-readline=${readline.dev}" else "--without-readline")
   ];
 
-  makeFlags = "AR=${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}ar";
+  makeFlags = [
+    "AR=${stdenv.cc.targetPrefix}ar"
+  ];
 
   inherit doCheck;