diff --git a/mk/cxx-big-literal.mk b/mk/cxx-big-literal.mk
index 85365df8eba..d64a171c87e 100644
--- a/mk/cxx-big-literal.mk
+++ b/mk/cxx-big-literal.mk
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 %.gen.hh: %
-	@echo 'R"foo(' >> $@.tmp
+	@echo 'R"__NIX_STR(' >> $@.tmp
 	$(trace-gen) cat $< >> $@.tmp
-	@echo ')foo"' >> $@.tmp
+	@echo ')__NIX_STR"' >> $@.tmp
 	@mv $@.tmp $@