diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 55e059f31a857..3cc9ff0cd3f9f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ EXTRA_GOFLAGS ?=
 MAKE_VERSION := $(shell $(MAKE) -v | head -n 1)
 MAKE_EVIDENCE_DIR := .make_evidence
 
-ifneq ($(RACE_ENABLED),"0")
+ifeq ($(RACE_ENABLED),true)
 	GOFLAGS += -race
 	GOTESTFLAGS += -race
 endif