diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.in b/scripts/Makefile.in
index 5c48538b9f..41848fc1c7 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.in
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.in
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ check:
 	@echo -n " ZTEST "
 	@echo    "===================================="
 	@echo
-	@ulimit -c unlimited
+	@$(shell ulimit -c unlimited)
 	@$(ZTEST) -V
 	@echo
 	@echo -n "===================================="