diff --git a/Makefile.inc1 b/Makefile.inc1
index 8d47d8098ab..5c3d190e4c3 100644
--- a/Makefile.inc1
+++ b/Makefile.inc1
@@ -1004,7 +1004,7 @@ IMAKE_MTREE=	MTREE_CMD="${MTREE_CMD} ${MTREEFLAGS}"
 .if ${DISTDIR:U/} == /
 .error DISTDIR must be set for make distributeworld and may not be the root directory.
 .endif
-if !defined(NO_ROOT) || !defined(METALOG)
+.if !defined(NO_ROOT) || !defined(METALOG)
 .error NO_ROOT and METALOG must be set for make distributeworld.
 .endif
 CERTCTLDESTDIR=	${DESTDIR}/${DISTDIR}