diff --git a/src/db/Makefile b/src/db/Makefile
index 013f2053a..51db3b933 100644
--- a/src/db/Makefile
+++ b/src/db/Makefile
@@ -61,4 +61,4 @@ include $(TOP)/configure/RULES
 dbCommon.h: ../dbCommonRecord.dbd ../dbCommon.dbd
 	$(RM) $@
 	$(EPICS_BASE_HOST_BIN)/dbToRecordtypeH$(HOSTEXE) \
-		$(DBDFLAGS) $<
+		-I .. $<