diff --git a/pkgs/tools/compression/ncompress/builder.sh b/pkgs/tools/compression/ncompress/builder.sh
index fb0824d8a28c..7a3f34aae469 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/compression/ncompress/builder.sh
+++ b/pkgs/tools/compression/ncompress/builder.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ installFlags="PREFIX=$out"
 
 preBuild() {
     cp Makefile.def Makefile
+    sed -i GNUmakefile -e 's/compress %/%/g'
 }
 
 postInstall() {