diff --git a/meta/recipes-kernel/perf/perf.bb b/meta/recipes-kernel/perf/perf.bb
index e3e5d55e39..65dc8e7538 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-kernel/perf/perf.bb
+++ b/meta/recipes-kernel/perf/perf.bb
@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@ PACKAGECONFIG[pfm4] = ",NO_LIBPFM4=1,libpfm4"
 PACKAGECONFIG[babeltrace] = ",NO_LIBBABELTRACE=1,babeltrace"
 PACKAGECONFIG[zstd] = ",NO_LIBZSTD=1,zstd"
 PACKAGECONFIG[llvm] = ",NO_LIBLLVM=1,llvm"
+# Disable BUILD_BPF_SKEL by default. Use "BUILD_BPF_SKEL=1," format
+# instead of ",BUILD_BPF_SKEL=0" because Make's ifdef triggers on any
+# defined value including 0. Note: Rust-in-kernel support pulls in
+# clang-native, satisfying the dependency checks and causing perf to
+# attempt building bpftool, which fails without an adequate clang.
+PACKAGECONFIG[bpf-skel] = "BUILD_BPF_SKEL=1,"
 
 # libunwind is not yet ported for some architectures
 PACKAGECONFIG:remove:arc = "libunwind"
@@ -439,8 +445,3 @@ perf_fix_sources () {
 	done
 }
 
-# Disable BUILD_BPF_SKEL by default.
-# Rust in kernel support pulls in clang-native, which satisfies the
-# BUILD_BPF_SKEL dependency checks and causes perf to attempt
-# building bpftool, resulting in a build failure.
-PACKAGECONFIG[bpf-skel] = ",BUILD_BPF_SKEL=0"