diff --git a/Makefile.mips b/Makefile.mips
index 7b70b9d3fcc0..cc08a5923371 100644
--- a/Makefile.mips
+++ b/Makefile.mips
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # $FreeBSD$
 
-.if ${TARGET_ABI} == "n64"
+.if defined(TARGET_ABI) && ${TARGET_ABI} == "n64"
 MK_RESCUE=no
 .endif