diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ea67778254cbe..a50675a986548 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ define sysimg_builder
 $$(build_private_libdir)/sys$1-o.a $$(build_private_libdir)/sys$1-bc.a : $$(build_private_libdir)/sys$1-%.a : $$(build_private_libdir)/sys.ji
 	@$$(call PRINT_JULIA, cd $$(JULIAHOME)/base && \
 	if ! $$(call spawn,$3) $2 -C "$$(JULIA_CPU_TARGET)" --output-$$* $$(call cygpath_w,$$@).tmp $$(JULIA_SYSIMG_BUILD_FLAGS) \
-		--startup-file=no --warn-overwrite=yes --sysimage $$(call cygpath_w,$$<) $$(call cygpath_w,$$(JULIAHOME)/contrib/generate_precompile.jl) $(JULIA_PRECOMPILE); then \
+		--startup-file=no --warn-overwrite=yes --sysimage $$(call cygpath_w,$$<) $$(call cygpath_w,$$(JULIAHOME)/base/generate_precompile.jl) $(JULIA_PRECOMPILE); then \
 		echo '*** This error is usually fixed by running `make clean`. If the error persists$$(COMMA) try `make cleanall`. ***'; \
 		false; \
 	fi )
diff --git a/contrib/generate_precompile.jl b/base/generate_precompile.jl
similarity index 100%
rename from contrib/generate_precompile.jl
rename to base/generate_precompile.jl