Purpose – Driven by the growing pressure to justify the contributions of marketing activities, marketers have shown considerable interest in improving their marketing performance measurement systems (MPMSs). The objective of this study is to examine the neglected mediating effect of marketing capabilities on the MPMS-firm performance relationship and to focus on specific aspects of MPMSs that have been largely omitted in the prior research, namely the comprehensiveness and uses of MPMSs. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted with marketing and senior managers from 210 Irish-based companies. The proposed research model was tested using the SPSS Process macro and structural equation modelling in AMOS 24. Findings – The three characteristics of MPMSs influence firm performance in different manners: while the diagnostic use of MPMSs hinders the development of market-linking capability and thus negatively influences firm performance, the comprehensiveness of MPMSs positively influences firm performance through its impact on architectural marketing capability, and the interactive use of MPMSs via externally-focused learning and market-linking capabilities. Practical implications – This study provides insights into how companies can use a comprehensive MPMS to cultivate specific crucial marketing capabilities and thereby enhance firm performance. Originality/value – This study contributes to the marketing performance measurement literature by proposing and empirically validating the mediating effect of marketing capabilities on the MPMS-firm performance relationship. Keywords Marketing performance measurement systems, the use of MPMSs, market-linking capability, externally-focused learning capability, architectural marketing capability