diff --git a/gnu/usr.bin/binutils/strip/Makefile b/gnu/usr.bin/binutils/strip/Makefile
index c059b4bace1..b204431adaf 100644
--- a/gnu/usr.bin/binutils/strip/Makefile
+++ b/gnu/usr.bin/binutils/strip/Makefile
@@ -17,16 +17,14 @@ CLEANFILES+=	maybe_stripped
 
 all: maybe_stripped
 
-maybe_stripped: strip
-	cp strip maybe_stripped
-.if defined(STRIP)
-.if ${STRIP:M-s} != ""
-	-strip maybe_stripped
-.endif
-.endif
-
 realinstall:
 	${INSTALL} -o ${BINOWN} -g ${BINGRP} -m ${BINMODE} \
 	    maybe_stripped ${DESTDIR}${BINDIR}/strip
 
 .include <bsd.prog.mk>
+
+maybe_stripped: strip
+	cp strip maybe_stripped
+.if defined(STRIP) && !empty(STRIP:M-s)
+	-strip maybe_stripped
+.endif