diff --git a/gnu/packages/aspell.scm b/gnu/packages/aspell.scm
index 7b2347720b..1e2149cd2c 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/aspell.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/aspell.scm
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ dictionaries, including personal ones.")
          (replace 'configure
            (lambda* (#:key outputs #:allow-other-keys)
              (let ((out (assoc-ref outputs "out")))
-               (zero? (system* "./configure"))))))
+               (invoke "./configure")))))
        #:make-flags
        (let ((out (assoc-ref %outputs "out")))
          (list (string-append "dictdir=" out "/lib/aspell")