diff --git a/Makefile.target b/Makefile.target
index bf08b098cd..b41b8a4a5c 100644
--- a/Makefile.target
+++ b/Makefile.target
@@ -379,11 +379,6 @@ ifdef CONFIG_SLIRP
 QEMU_CFLAGS+=-I$(SRC_PATH)/slirp
 endif
 
-ifdef TARGET_GPROF
-vl.o: QEMU_CFLAGS+=-p
-LDFLAGS+=-p
-endif
-
 ifeq ($(ARCH),ia64)
 LDFLAGS+=-Wl,-G0 -Wl,-T,$(SRC_PATH)/ia64.ld
 endif
@@ -391,7 +386,7 @@ endif
 # profiling code
 ifdef TARGET_GPROF
 LDFLAGS+=-p
-main.o: QEMU_CFLAGS+=-p
+main.o vl.o: QEMU_CFLAGS+=-p
 endif
 
 vl.o: QEMU_CFLAGS+=$(SDL_CFLAGS)