diff --git a/tools/bpf/Makefile b/tools/bpf/Makefile
index 5d1995fd369c..5535650800ab 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/Makefile
+++ b/tools/bpf/Makefile
@@ -16,7 +16,13 @@ CFLAGS += -D__EXPORTED_HEADERS__ -I$(srctree)/include/uapi -I$(srctree)/include
 # isn't set and when invoked from selftests build, where srctree
 # is set to ".". building_out_of_srctree is undefined for in srctree
 # builds
+ifeq ($(srctree),)
+update_srctree := 1
+endif
 ifndef building_out_of_srctree
+update_srctree := 1
+endif
+ifeq ($(update_srctree),1)
 srctree := $(patsubst %/,%,$(dir $(CURDIR)))
 srctree := $(patsubst %/,%,$(dir $(srctree)))
 endif