diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/lib.mk b/tools/testing/selftests/lib.mk
index ce96d80ad64f..775c589ac3c0 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/lib.mk
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/lib.mk
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 # Makefile can operate with or without the kbuild infrastructure.
 CC := $(CROSS_COMPILE)gcc
 
+ifeq (0,$(MAKELEVEL))
+OUTPUT := $(shell pwd)
+endif
+
 TEST_GEN_PROGS := $(patsubst %,$(OUTPUT)/%,$(TEST_GEN_PROGS))
 TEST_GEN_FILES := $(patsubst %,$(OUTPUT)/%,$(TEST_GEN_FILES))