diff --git a/gnu/packages/backup.scm b/gnu/packages/backup.scm
index 9ef0ee7f09..0b914d9709 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/backup.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/backup.scm
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ (define-public par2cmdline
      `(#:phases
        (modify-phases %standard-phases
          (add-after 'unpack 'autoreconf
-           (lambda _ (zero? (system* "autoreconf" "-vfi")))))))
+           (lambda _ (invoke "autoreconf" "-vfi"))))))
     (synopsis "File verification and repair tools")
     (description "Par2cmdline uses Reed-Solomon error-correcting codes to
 generate and verify PAR2 recovery files.  These files can be distributed