diff --git a/usr.bin/make/parse.c b/usr.bin/make/parse.c
index b0454a660e3..f99f186990a 100644
--- a/usr.bin/make/parse.c
+++ b/usr.bin/make/parse.c
@@ -1428,17 +1428,18 @@ Parse_DoVar (line, ctxt)
 	    while(((pid = wait(&status)) != cpid) && (pid >= 0))
 		continue;
 
-	    res = (char *)Buf_GetAll (buf, &cc);
-	    Buf_Destroy (buf, FALSE);
-
-	    if (cc == 0) {
+	    if (cc == -1) {
 		/*
-		 * Couldn't read the child's output -- tell the user and
-		 * set the variable to null
+		 * Couldn't read all of the child's output -- tell the user
+		 * but still use whatever we read.  Null output isn't an
+		 * error unless there was an error reading it.
 		 */
 		Parse_Error(PARSE_WARNING, "Couldn't read shell's output");
 	    }
 
+	    res = (char *)Buf_GetAll (buf, &cc);
+	    Buf_Destroy (buf, FALSE);
+
 	    if (status) {
 		/*
 		 * Child returned an error -- tell the user but still use