diff --git a/debian/rules.real b/debian/rules.real
index 392c2c8e4..e31137fe1 100644
--- a/debian/rules.real
+++ b/debian/rules.real
@@ -374,14 +374,14 @@ install-image-$(ARCH)-$(SUBARCH)-$(FLAVOUR)-plain-xen:
 	dh_testdir
 	dh_testroot
 	dh_clean -d -k
-	dh_installdirs -p$(PACKAGE_NAME) 'boot'
-	dh_installdirs -p$(MODULES_PACKAGE_NAME) 'boot'
+	DH_OPTIONS= dh_installdirs -p$(PACKAGE_NAME) 'boot'
+	DH_OPTIONS= dh_installdirs -p$(MODULES_PACKAGE_NAME) 'boot'
 	cp $(DIR)/vmlinuz $(INSTALL_DIR)/vmlinuz-$(REAL_VERSION)
 	cd $(DIR); $(setup_env) make modules_install ARCH=$(KERNEL_ARCH) INSTALL_MOD_PATH=$(MODULES_PACKAGE_DIR)
 	cp $(DIR)/.config $(MODULES_PACKAGE_DIR)/boot/config-$(REAL_VERSION)
 	cp $(DIR)/System.map $(MODULES_PACKAGE_DIR)/boot/System.map-$(REAL_VERSION)
 	rm $(MODULES_PACKAGE_DIR)/lib/modules/$(REAL_VERSION)/{build,source}
-	$(MAKE) -f debian/rules.real install-base DH_OPTIONS='$(DH_OPTIONS)'
+	$(MAKE) -f debian/rules.real install-base
 
 install-patch: PACKAGE = linux-patch-debian-$(VERSION)
 install-patch: pbase := /usr/src/kernel-patches/all/$(SOURCE_UPSTREAM)