diff --git a/tools/Makefile b/tools/Makefile
index 81d034f993..e86e2789e6 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile
+++ b/tools/Makefile
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ else
   tools-$(if $(CONFIG_BUILD_ALL_HOST_TOOLS)$(CONFIG_SDK),y) += coreutils
 endif
 ifneq ($(filter coreutils,$(tools-y)),)
+  $(curdir)/elfutils/compile += $(curdir)/coreutils/compile
   $(curdir)/squashfs4/compile += $(curdir)/coreutils/compile
 endif