diff --git a/sys/conf/kmod.mk b/sys/conf/kmod.mk
index 203d6d76e7e6..50000c5e50f2 100644
--- a/sys/conf/kmod.mk
+++ b/sys/conf/kmod.mk
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ ${FULLPROG}: ${OBJS}
 .else
 	grep -v '^#' < ${EXPORT_SYMS} > export_syms
 .endif
-	awk -f ${SYSDIR}/conf/kmod_syms.awk ${.TARGET} \
+	${AWK} -f ${SYSDIR}/conf/kmod_syms.awk ${.TARGET} \
 	    export_syms | xargs -J% ${OBJCOPY} % ${.TARGET}
 .endif
 .endif