diff --git a/py/mkrules.mk b/py/mkrules.mk
index 0dd35573d0..d356275f1f 100644
--- a/py/mkrules.mk
+++ b/py/mkrules.mk
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ $(HEADER_BUILD):
 ifneq ($(MICROPY_MPYCROSS_DEPENDENCY),)
 # to automatically build mpy-cross, if needed
 $(MICROPY_MPYCROSS_DEPENDENCY):
-	$(MAKE) -C $(dir $@)
+	$(MAKE) -C $(TOP)/mpy-cross
 endif
 
 ifneq ($(FROZEN_DIR),)