diff --git a/rules/utilities.mk b/rules/utilities.mk
index 4b397300..cabe2052 100644
--- a/rules/utilities.mk
+++ b/rules/utilities.mk
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ install-dist: $$(or $$(call extantfiles,$$(DISTFILES)),fail)
 	set -o extendedglob
 	export VERSION_CONTROL=none
 	extants=($(addsuffix ($(hash)qN),$(DISTFILES)))
-	$(XARGS) -r install -m0644 -t "$(DISTDIR)" <<< $${(u)extants}
+	$(XARGS) -r install -m0644 -t "$(DISTDIR)" <<< $${$${(u)extants}}
 
 .PHONY: debug
 debug: