diff --git a/racket/collects/compiler/compile-file.rkt b/racket/collects/compiler/compile-file.rkt
index 2fcab1b0ed..3e2b945c60 100644
--- a/racket/collects/compiler/compile-file.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/compiler/compile-file.rkt
@@ -59,5 +59,5 @@
                (with-handlers ([exn:fail:filesystem? void])
                  (delete-file temp-filename))))))
       (lambda () (close-input-port in)))
-     dest]))
+     (build-path dest)]))