diff --git a/util/build-gnu.sh b/util/build-gnu.sh
index d693466c718..d16dd75ad29 100755
--- a/util/build-gnu.sh
+++ b/util/build-gnu.sh
@@ -164,6 +164,11 @@ fi
 # automake or config.status and undo our edits.
 touch Makefile.in Makefile
 
+# Patch the Makefile PATH to point to uutils build dir instead of GNU src/
+sed -i "s/^[[:blank:]]*PATH=.*/  PATH='${UU_BUILD_DIR//\//\\/}\$(PATH_SEPARATOR)'\"\$\$PATH\" \\\/" Makefile
+# Prevent make check from rebuilding the GNU binaries over the uutils ones
+sed -i 's/^check-am: all-am/check-am:/' Makefile
+
 grep -rl 'path_prepend_' tests/* | xargs -r "${SED}" -i 's| path_prepend_ ./src||'
 # path_prepend_ sets $abs_path_dir_: set it manually instead.
 grep -rl '\$abs_path_dir_' tests/*/*.sh | xargs -r "${SED}" -i "s|\$abs_path_dir_|${UU_BUILD_DIR//\//\\/}|g"