diff --git a/Makefile.inc1 b/Makefile.inc1
index b6e8dd000896..bc5de3dc31f6 100644
--- a/Makefile.inc1
+++ b/Makefile.inc1
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ CLEANDIR=	clean cleandepend
 CLEANDIR=	cleandir
 .endif
 
-LOCAL_TOOL_DIRS?=	''
+LOCAL_TOOL_DIRS?=
 
 CVS?=		cvs
 CVSFLAGS?=	-A -P -d -I!