diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
index ca3b87d5389a..9a8cf376f874 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ $(LIBTRACEEVENT)-clean:
 	$(call QUIET_CLEAN, libtraceevent)
 	@$(MAKE) -C $(TRACE_EVENT_DIR) O=$(OUTPUT) clean >/dev/null
 
-install-traceevent-plugins:
+install-traceevent-plugins: $(LIBTRACEEVENT)
 	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)$(TRACE_EVENT_DIR) $(LIBTRACEEVENT_FLAGS) install_plugins
 
 LIBLK_SOURCES = $(wildcard $(LK_PATH)*.[ch])