diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d6a41407..34fda8f8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ ci-mgmt: .ci-mgmt.yaml
 		--config $<
 
 .pulumi/bin/pulumi: .pulumi/version
-	curl -fsSL https://get.pulumi.com | HOME=$(WORKING_DIR) sh -s -- --version $(cat .pulumi/version)
+	curl -fsSL https://get.pulumi.com | HOME=$(WORKING_DIR) sh -s -- --version $(shell cat .pulumi/version)
 
 # Compute the version of Pulumi to use by inspecting the Go dependencies of the provider.
 .pulumi/version: