diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2c84c9d8d98..8e1adeea0e8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ tags :
 ##############################################################################
 
 bootstrap-json-%: phony
-	cabal build --project=cabal.project.release --with-compiler=ghc-$* --dry-run cabal-install:exe:cabal
+	cabal build --project-file=cabal.project.release --with-compiler=ghc-$* --dry-run cabal-install:exe:cabal
 	cp dist-newstyle/cache/plan.json bootstrap/linux-$*.plan.json
 	@# -v0 to avoid build output on stdout
 	cd bootstrap && cabal run -v0 cabal-bootstrap-gen -- linux-$*.plan.json \