diff --git a/sys/conf/kmod.mk b/sys/conf/kmod.mk
index 20d079b1ce85..5d10da5ee03a 100644
--- a/sys/conf/kmod.mk
+++ b/sys/conf/kmod.mk
@@ -165,11 +165,11 @@ ${OBJS}: ${_link}
 
 # Search for kernel source tree in standard places.
 .for _dir in ${.CURDIR}/../.. ${.CURDIR}/../../.. /sys /usr/src/sys
-.if !defined(SYSDIR) && exists(${_dir}/kern/)
+.if !defined(SYSDIR) && exists(${_dir}/kern)
 SYSDIR=	${_dir}
 .endif
 .endfor
-.if !defined(SYSDIR) || !exists(${SYSDIR}/kern/)
+.if !defined(SYSDIR) || !exists(${SYSDIR}/kern)
 .error "can't find kernel source tree"
 .endif