diff --git a/eclass/qmake-utils.eclass b/eclass/qmake-utils.eclass
index 024d23a32f264..79c8deaf8c66f 100644
--- a/eclass/qmake-utils.eclass
+++ b/eclass/qmake-utils.eclass
@@ -173,7 +173,11 @@ eqmake6() {
 	local -a args
 	mapfile -t args <<<"$(qt6_get_qmake_args)"
 	# NB: we're passing literal quotes in but qmake doesn't seem to mind
-	"$(qt6_get_bindir)"/qmake -makefile "${args[@]}" "$@"
+	if [[ ${EAPI} == 8 ]]; then
+		"$(qt6_get_bindir)"/qmake -makefile "${args[@]}" "$@"
+	else
+		"$(qt_get_broot_binary 6 qmake)" -makefile "${args[@]}" "$@"
+	fi
 
 	if ! eend $? ; then
 		echo