diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d7e4585595c..cab2486fb16 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -62,10 +62,10 @@ tmp/.config-%.in: tmp/.%info
 
 
 .config: ./scripts/config/conf tmp/.config-target.in tmp/.config-package.in
-	@[ -f .config ] || { \
-		[ -e $(HOME)/.openwrt/defconfig ] && cp $(HOME)/.openwrt/defconfig .config; \
+	@if [ \! -f .config -a -e $(HOME)/.openwrt/defconfig ]; then \ 
+		cp $(HOME)/.openwrt/defconfig .config; \
 		$(NO_TRACE_MAKE) menuconfig; \
-	}
+	fi
 	@$< -D .config Config.in &> /dev/null
 
 scripts/config/mconf: