diff --git a/share/mk/local.meta.sys.env.mk b/share/mk/local.meta.sys.env.mk
index 937b9c10bc3..6b692d13fed 100644
--- a/share/mk/local.meta.sys.env.mk
+++ b/share/mk/local.meta.sys.env.mk
@@ -88,3 +88,8 @@ META_MODE+=	missing-meta=yes
 .if empty(META_MODE:Mnofilemon)
 META_MODE+=	missing-filemon=yes
 .endif
+
+.if make(showconfig)
+# this does not need/want filemon
+UPDATE_DEPENDFILE= NO
+.endif
diff --git a/tools/build/options/makeman b/tools/build/options/makeman
index db0b75363a8..5a8b207b228 100755
--- a/tools/build/options/makeman
+++ b/tools/build/options/makeman
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@
 
 set -o errexit
 export LC_ALL=C
-# just be clear that we are not making anything
-export UPDATE_DEPENDFILE=no
 
 t=$(mktemp -d -t makeman)
 trap 'test -d $t && rm -rf $t' exit