diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index abbe9a303..1303530fd 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ well-known: static;
 
 # HELP(test-backend): test backend
 --test-backend:
-	stack build --test --coverage --fast --workdir .stack-work-test --flag uniworx:library-only $(stackopts)
+	stack build --test --coverage --fast --work-dir .stack-work-test --flag uniworx:library-only $(stackopts)
 
 # TODO: better name
 .PHONY: db
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ db: --image-build --containerized---db;
 --db-backend: .stack
 	SERVER_SESSION_ACID_FALLBACK=${SERVER_SESSION_ACID_FALLBACK:-true} ; \
 	AVSPASS=${AVSPASS:-nopasswordset} ; \
-	stack exec uniworxdb -- $(UNIWORXDB_OPTS)
+	stack --work-dir .stack-work-build exec uniworxdb -- $(UNIWORXDB_OPTS)
 
 .PHONY: .stack
 .stack: