diff --git a/Makefile.inc1 b/Makefile.inc1
--- a/Makefile.inc1
+++ b/Makefile.inc1
@@ -1991,7 +1991,7 @@
 .endif
 
 stagekernel: .PHONY
-	${_+_}${MAKE} -C ${.CURDIR} ${.MAKEFLAGS} distributekernel
+	${_+_}${MAKE} -C ${.CURDIR} ${.MAKEFLAGS} DISTDIR=. distributekernel
 
 PORTSDIR?=	/usr/ports
 WSTAGEDIR?=	${OBJTOP}/worldstage