diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/vfio/Makefile b/tools/testing/selftests/vfio/Makefile
index e6e8cb52ab03..2c32c48db509 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/vfio/Makefile
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/vfio/Makefile
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ CFLAGS += $(EXTRA_CFLAGS)
 
 LDFLAGS += -pthread
 
-LDLIBS += -luuid
-
 $(TEST_GEN_PROGS): $(OUTPUT)/%: $(OUTPUT)/%.o $(LIBVFIO_O)
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $< $(LIBVFIO_O) $(LDLIBS) -o $@
 
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/vfio/lib/libvfio.mk b/tools/testing/selftests/vfio/lib/libvfio.mk
index 2b8d73b7d329..67942b085068 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/vfio/lib/libvfio.mk
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/vfio/lib/libvfio.mk
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ $(LIBVFIO_O_DIRS):
 
 CFLAGS += -I$(LIBVFIO_SRCDIR)/include
 
+LDLIBS += -luuid
+
 $(LIBVFIO_O): $(LIBVFIO_OUTPUT)/%.o : $(LIBVFIO_SRCDIR)/%.c | $(LIBVFIO_O_DIRS)
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS) $(TARGET_ARCH) -c $< -o $@