diff --git a/usr.bin/Makefile b/usr.bin/Makefile
index d9d141e649b..480e4327ca6 100644
--- a/usr.bin/Makefile
+++ b/usr.bin/Makefile
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ SUBDIR=	apply \
 	passwd \
 	paste \
 	pathchk \
-	perl \
 	pr \
 	printenv \
 	printf \
@@ -217,6 +216,10 @@ SUBDIR+=dig \
 	host
 .endif
 
+.if !defined(NO_PERL)
+SUBDIR+=perl
+.endif
+
 .if !defined(NO_SENDMAIL)
 SUBDIR+=vacation 
 .endif