diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/Makefile b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/Makefile
index 03b0f551bedff..48c970c90353b 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/Makefile
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/kvm/Makefile
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ INSTALL_HDR_PATH = $(top_srcdir)/usr
 LINUX_HDR_PATH = $(INSTALL_HDR_PATH)/include/
 LINUX_TOOL_INCLUDE = $(top_srcdir)tools/include
 CFLAGS += -O2 -g -std=gnu99 -I$(LINUX_TOOL_INCLUDE) -I$(LINUX_HDR_PATH) -Iinclude -I$(<D) -I..
-LDFLAGS += -lpthread
+LDFLAGS += -pthread
 
 # After inclusion, $(OUTPUT) is defined and
 # $(TEST_GEN_PROGS) starts with $(OUTPUT)/