diff --git a/Makefile.org b/Makefile.org
index 560051481..8c36768a7 100644
--- a/Makefile.org
+++ b/Makefile.org
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ files:
 	@for i in $(DIRS) ;\
 	do \
 	(cd $$i && echo "making 'files' in $$i..." && \
-	$(MAKE) SDIRS='${SDIRS}' files ) || exit 1; \
+	$(MAKE) SDIRS='${SDIRS}' PERL='${PERL}' files ) || exit 1; \
 	done;
 
 links:
diff --git a/crypto/Makefile.ssl b/crypto/Makefile.ssl
index 38013619a..15b1f11b4 100644
--- a/crypto/Makefile.ssl
+++ b/crypto/Makefile.ssl
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ files:
 	@for i in $(SDIRS) ;\
 	do \
 	(cd $$i; echo "making 'files' in crypto/$$i..."; \
-	$(MAKE) files ); \
+	$(MAKE) PERL='${PERL}' files ); \
 	done;
 
 links: