diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ef319fa4739..82c765b2000 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ endif
 
 MKTAGS?=ctags
 EMACS_COMPAT=
-ifneq (INSIDE_EMACS,)
+ifneq ($(INSIDE_EMACS),)
 EMACS_COMPAT=-e
 endif