diff --git a/Makefile.include b/Makefile.include
index 1633d5c66..d44414af6 100644
--- a/Makefile.include
+++ b/Makefile.include
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ endif
 
 ifeq ($(DEFINES),)
   -include Makefile.$(TARGET).defines
-  ${info using saved defines '$(DEFINES)'}
+  ifneq ($(DEFINES),)
+    ${info using saved defines '$(DEFINES)'}
+  endif
 endif
 
 usage: