diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 033b037d6..3c0d75bd2 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ Makefile.in
 /build-aux/install-sh
 /build-aux/mdate-sh
 /build-aux/missing
-/build-aux/mkinstalldirs
 /config.cache
 /config.log
 /config.status
diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index e1ec0d2ca..8f8e7c7f1 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ PERL_COVERAGE_FLAGS = -MDevel::Cover=-db,$(PERL_COVERAGE_DB),-silent,on,-summary
 PERL_COVER = cover
 
 check-coverage-run: all
-	$(mkinstalldirs) $(PERL_COVERAGE_DB)
+	$(MKDIR_P) $(PERL_COVERAGE_DB)
 	PERL5OPT="$(PERL_COVERAGE_FLAGS)"; export PERL5OPT; \
 	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) check