diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/timers/Makefile b/tools/testing/selftests/timers/Makefile
index 3496680981f2..d937e45532d8 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/timers/Makefile
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/timers/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 CFLAGS += -O3 -Wl,-no-as-needed -Wall
-LDFLAGS += -lrt -lpthread -lm
+LDLIBS += -lrt -lpthread -lm
 
 # these are all "safe" tests that don't modify
 # system time or require escalated privileges