diff --git a/etc/mail/Makefile b/etc/mail/Makefile
index 833b45f55dc4..fed02d38187b 100644
--- a/etc/mail/Makefile
+++ b/etc/mail/Makefile
@@ -153,7 +153,9 @@ maps:		${SENDMAIL_MAP_OBJ}
 aliases:	${SENDMAIL_ALIASES}.db
 
 install:	${INSTALL_CF}
+.if ${INSTALL_CF} != /etc/mail/sendmail.cf
 	${INSTALL} -c -m ${SHAREMODE} ${INSTALL_CF} /etc/mail/sendmail.cf
+.endif
 
 start:
 	(. /etc/defaults/rc.conf; source_rc_confs; \
diff --git a/etc/sendmail/Makefile b/etc/sendmail/Makefile
index 28b5244b3aeb..228b4da540bc 100644
--- a/etc/sendmail/Makefile
+++ b/etc/sendmail/Makefile
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ INSTALL_CF=	${SENDMAIL_CF}
 .endif
 .endif
 
+DEST_CF=	${DESTDIR}/etc/mail/sendmail.cf
+
 ALL+=		${INSTALL_CF}
 
 # Additional .cf files to build
@@ -57,8 +59,10 @@ install:	${INSTALL_CF}
 	@false
 .endif
 .if defined(INSTALL_CF)
+.if ${INSTALL_CF} != ${DEST_CF}
 	${INSTALL} ${COPY} -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 644 ${INSTALL_CF} \
-		${DESTDIR}/etc/mail/sendmail.cf
+		${DEST_CF}
+.endif
 .endif
 
 # Helper for src/etc/Makefile
@@ -72,11 +76,13 @@ distribution:	freebsd.cf freebsd.mc ${INSTALL_CF}
 	${INSTALL} ${COPY} -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 644 freebsd.cf \
 		${DESTDIR}/etc/mail/freebsd.cf
 .if defined(INSTALL_CF)
+.if ${INSTALL_CF} != ${DEST_CF}
 	${INSTALL} ${COPY} -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 644 ${INSTALL_CF} \
-		${DESTDIR}/etc/mail/sendmail.cf
+		${DEST_CF}
+.endif
 .else
 	${INSTALL} ${COPY} -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 644 freebsd.cf \
-		${DESTDIR}/etc/mail/sendmail.cf
+		${DEST_CF}
 .endif
 	${INSTALL} -c -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m 444 ${SMDIR}/helpfile \
 	    ${DESTDIR}/etc/mail/helpfile