diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3aa0d0a2e..0b1d59f03 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -35,6 +35,6 @@ copysrc:
 endif
 
 tar:
-	tar cfjP epics_base-$(EPICS_VERSION_NUMBER).tar.bz2 $(INSTALL_LOCATION) --exclude=*.o
+	tar cfjP epics_base-$(EPICS_VERSION_NUMBER).tar.bz2 --exclude=*.o $(INSTALL_LOCATION)
 
 .PHONY: copysrc tar