diff --git a/tools/perf/util/Build b/tools/perf/util/Build
index 3ae4adc8e966..e63bfc46d50f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/Build
+++ b/tools/perf/util/Build
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ $(OUTPUT)util/expr-bison.c: util/expr.y
 
 $(OUTPUT)util/pmu-flex.c: util/pmu.l $(OUTPUT)util/pmu-bison.c
 	$(call rule_mkdir)
-	$(Q)$(call echo-cmd,flex)$(FLEX) -o $@ --header-file=$(OUTPUT)util/pmu-flex.h $<
+	$(Q)$(call echo-cmd,flex)$(FLEX) -o $@ --header-file=$(OUTPUT)util/pmu-flex.h $(PARSER_DEBUG_FLEX) $<
 
 $(OUTPUT)util/pmu-bison.c: util/pmu.y
 	$(call rule_mkdir)