diff --git a/Makefile.inc1 b/Makefile.inc1
index 9c11ec9f38ca..2cf796ec22af 100644
--- a/Makefile.inc1
+++ b/Makefile.inc1
@@ -339,14 +339,15 @@ BUILDENV_SHELL?=${SHELL}
 BUILDENV_SHELL?=/bin/sh
 .endif
 
-.if !defined(SVN) || empty(SVN)
+.if !defined(SVN_CMD) || empty(SVN_CMD)
 . for _P in /usr/bin /usr/local/bin
 .  for _S in svn svnlite
 .   if exists(${_P}/${_S})
-SVN=   ${_P}/${_S}
+SVN_CMD=   ${_P}/${_S}
 .   endif
 .  endfor
 . endfor
+.export SVN_CMD
 .endif
 SVNFLAGS?=	-r HEAD
 .if !defined(VCS_REVISION) && empty(VCS_REVISION)
@@ -1794,7 +1795,7 @@ update: .PHONY
 	@echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
 	@echo ">>> Updating ${.CURDIR} using Subversion"
 	@echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
-	@(cd ${.CURDIR}; ${SVN} update ${SVNFLAGS})
+	@(cd ${.CURDIR}; ${SVN_CMD} update ${SVNFLAGS})
 .endif
 
 #