diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 75be5870cc55..ae9156f804e5 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1073,7 +1073,7 @@ PHONY += autoksyms_recursive
 ifdef CONFIG_TRIM_UNUSED_KSYMS
 autoksyms_recursive: descend modules.order
 	$(Q)$(CONFIG_SHELL) $(srctree)/scripts/adjust_autoksyms.sh \
-	  "$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/Makefile vmlinux"
+	  "$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/Makefile autoksyms_recursive"
 endif
 
 # For the kernel to actually contain only the needed exported symbols,