diff --git a/pkgs/development/libraries/libpfm/default.nix b/pkgs/development/libraries/libpfm/default.nix
index 36e99c8cd91..d64591273bc 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/libraries/libpfm/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/libraries/libpfm/default.nix
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     sha256 = "0jabhjx77yppr7x38bkfww6n2a480gj62rw0qp7prhdmg19mf766";
   };
 
-  installFlags = "DESTDIR=\${out} PREFIX= LDCONFIG=true";
-
   makeFlags = [
+    "PREFIX=${placeholder "out"}"
+    "LDCONFIG=true"
     "ARCH=${stdenv.targetPlatform.uname.processor}"
     "SYS=${stdenv.targetPlatform.uname.system}"
   ];