diff --git a/tool/cosmocc/package.sh b/tool/cosmocc/package.sh
index c559e19fe..74c0b32e9 100755
--- a/tool/cosmocc/package.sh
+++ b/tool/cosmocc/package.sh
@@ -54,11 +54,13 @@ ARM64=${3:-aarch64}
 NPROC=$(($(_nproc)/2))
 GCCVER=14.1.0
 MAKE=$(which_make)
-APE=$(which_ape)
 
 $MAKE -j$NPROC m= \
   $APELINK
 
+APE=$(which_ape)
+$APE
+
 $MAKE -j$NPROC m=$AMD64 \
   o/cosmocc.h.txt \
   o/$AMD64/ape/ape.lds \