diff --git a/usr.bin/strip/Makefile b/usr.bin/strip/Makefile
index b9bfe09a20e9..3d19864f4c22 100644
--- a/usr.bin/strip/Makefile
+++ b/usr.bin/strip/Makefile
@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@ all: maybe_stripped
 
 maybe_stripped: strip
 	cp -p strip maybe_stripped
+.if defined(STRIP)
 .if ${STRIP:M-s} != ""
 	./strip maybe_stripped
 .endif
+.endif
 
 install: maninstall
 	${INSTALL} ${COPY} -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m ${BINMODE} \