diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.headersinst b/scripts/Makefile.headersinst
index 06ba4a70bd4d..25f216a841d5 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.headersinst
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.headersinst
@@ -7,15 +7,15 @@
 #
 # ==========================================================================
 
-# called may set destination dir (when installing to asm/)
-_dst := $(or $(destination-y),$(dst),$(obj))
-
 # generated header directory
 gen := $(if $(gen),$(gen),$(subst include/,include/generated/,$(obj)))
 
 kbuild-file := $(srctree)/$(obj)/Kbuild
 include $(kbuild-file)
 
+# called may set destination dir (when installing to asm/)
+_dst := $(or $(destination-y),$(dst),$(obj))
+
 old-kbuild-file := $(srctree)/$(subst uapi/,,$(obj))/Kbuild
 ifneq ($(wildcard $(old-kbuild-file)),)
 include $(old-kbuild-file)