diff --git a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gmake/package.py b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gmake/package.py
index 5fe49b28cfa..dc99301f1d3 100644
--- a/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gmake/package.py
+++ b/var/spack/repos/builtin/packages/gmake/package.py
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ class Gmake(AutotoolsPackage, GNUMirrorPackage):
         when="@:4.2.1",
     )
 
+    # Avoid symlinking GNUMakefile to GNUMakefile
+    build_directory = "spack-build"
+
     # See https://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?57962
     patch("findprog-in-ignore-directories.patch", when="@4.3")