diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d148a55bfd0f5..e90bb2b38607a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1218,7 +1218,7 @@ quiet_cmd_ar_vmlinux.a = AR      $@
       cmd_ar_vmlinux.a = \
 	rm -f $@; \
 	$(AR) cDPrST $@ $(KBUILD_VMLINUX_OBJS); \
-	$(AR) mPiT $$($(AR) t $@ | head -n1) $@ $$($(AR) t $@ | grep -F --file=$(srctree)/scripts/head-object-list.txt)
+	$(AR) mPiT $$($(AR) t $@ | head -n1) $@ $$($(AR) t $@ | grep -F -f $(srctree)/scripts/head-object-list.txt)
 
 targets += vmlinux.a
 vmlinux.a: $(KBUILD_VMLINUX_OBJS) scripts/head-object-list.txt autoksyms_recursive FORCE