diff --git a/gnu/usr.bin/Makefile b/gnu/usr.bin/Makefile
index 12c70710ddd..9a15f01cbc9 100644
--- a/gnu/usr.bin/Makefile
+++ b/gnu/usr.bin/Makefile
@@ -50,10 +50,12 @@ _texinfo=	texinfo
 .if !defined(NO_TOOLCHAIN)
 _binutils=	binutils
 _cc=		cc
-_rcs=		rcs
 .if !defined(NO_GDB)
 _gdb=		gdb
 .endif
 .endif
+.if !defined(NO_RCS)
+_rcs=		rcs
+.endif
 
 .include <bsd.subdir.mk>