diff --git a/base/embutils/embutils.conf b/base/embutils/embutils.conf
index 12981b103..a39e7dfa2 100644
--- a/base/embutils/embutils.conf
+++ b/base/embutils/embutils.conf
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 if pkginstalled coreutils && [ $prefix_auto = 1 ] ; then
 	prefix=usr/embutils
 	set_confopt
-	hook_add postpatch 5 "rm -rf $root$bindir; ln -svf . $root$bindir"
+	hook_add preconf 5 "rm -rf $root$bindir; ln -svf . $root$bindir"
 	hook_add postmake  5 "rm -f $root$bindir"
 fi