diff --git a/config/makefiles/test/check-xpidl.mk b/config/makefiles/test/check-xpidl.mk
index 493a88520ee..48ba3b60272 100644
--- a/config/makefiles/test/check-xpidl.mk
+++ b/config/makefiles/test/check-xpidl.mk
@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@ INSTALL := cp
 
 XPIDLSRCS = $(srcdir)/check-xpidl.mk
 
+# Avoid permutations induced by 'include {config,kitchen-sink}.mk'
+install_cmd ?= $(INSTALL) $(1)
 include $(topsrcdir)/config/makefiles/xpidl.mk
 
+
 $(call requiredfunction,topsrcdir)
 $(call requiredfunction,XPIDL_GEN_DIR)
 
diff --git a/config/makefiles/xpidl.mk b/config/makefiles/xpidl.mk
index ba10306e181..ea9d36c8d12 100644
--- a/config/makefiles/xpidl.mk
+++ b/config/makefiles/xpidl.mk
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ endif #} INCLUDED_XPIDL_MK
 ###########################################################################
 ifdef _xpidl-todo_ #{
 
+$(call requiredfunction,install_cmd)
+
 ## Logic batch #1
 xpidl-install-src-preqs=\
   $(XPIDLSRCS) \