diff --git a/tools/libxc/Makefile b/tools/libxc/Makefile
index 4fdb3c210d..8233fff8e2 100644
--- a/tools/libxc/Makefile
+++ b/tools/libxc/Makefile
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ check-for-zlib:
 	false; \
 	fi
 
-LINUX_ROOT := $(wildcard $(XEN_ROOT)/linux-2.6.*-xen-sparse)
+LINUX_ROOT := $(XEN_ROOT)/linux-2.6-xen-sparse
 mk-symlinks:
 	[ -e xen/linux ] || mkdir -p xen/linux
 	[ -e xen/io ]    || mkdir -p xen/io
diff --git a/tools/policy/Makefile b/tools/policy/Makefile
index b8d67471ae..3c935c63b5 100644
--- a/tools/policy/Makefile
+++ b/tools/policy/Makefile
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ clean:
 	rm -rf policy_tool xen
 
 
-LINUX_ROOT := $(wildcard $(XEN_ROOT)/linux-2.6.*-xen-sparse)
+LINUX_ROOT := $(XEN_ROOT)/linux-2.6-xen-sparse
 mk-symlinks:
 	[ -e xen/linux ] || mkdir -p xen/linux
 	[ -e xen/io ]    || mkdir -p xen/io