diff --git a/pkgs/tools/text/replace/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/text/replace/default.nix
index 7ac41bbe8bf..0182a3bb48d 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/text/replace/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/text/replace/default.nix
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
     sha256 = "1c2nkxx83vmlh1v3ib6r2xqh121gdb1rharwsimcb2h0xwc558dm";
   };
 
-  makeFlags = "TREE=\$(out)";
+  makeFlags = ["TREE=\$(out)"];
 
   postInstall = "mv \$out/bin/replace \$out/bin/replace-literal";