diff --git a/lib/Makefile.am b/lib/Makefile.am
index dda87e41c0..93ee30697d 100644
--- a/lib/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/Makefile.am
@@ -6,9 +6,13 @@ if BUILD_LINUX
 SUBDIRS += libefi
 endif
 
+# libnvpair is installed as part of the final build product
+# libzutil depends on it, so it must be compiled before libzutil
+SUBDIRS += libnvpair
+
 # libzutil depends on libefi if present
 SUBDIRS += libzutil libunicode
 
-# These five libraries, which are installed as the final build product,
+# These four libraries, which are installed as the final build product,
 # incorporate the eight convenience libraries given above.
-SUBDIRS += libuutil libnvpair libzfs_core libzfs libzpool
+SUBDIRS += libuutil libzfs_core libzfs libzpool
diff --git a/lib/libzutil/Makefile.am b/lib/libzutil/Makefile.am
index cd03ba19d5..1b55ef6807 100644
--- a/lib/libzutil/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/libzutil/Makefile.am
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ libzutil_la_SOURCES = $(USER_C)
 libzutil_la_LIBADD = \
 	$(abs_top_builddir)/lib/libavl/libavl.la \
 	$(abs_top_builddir)/lib/libtpool/libtpool.la \
+	$(abs_top_builddir)/lib/libnvpair/libnvpair.la \
 	$(abs_top_builddir)/lib/libspl/libspl.la
 
 if BUILD_LINUX