diff --git a/Makefile.maint b/Makefile.maint
index 2fc2f1673..9e5668089 100644
--- a/Makefile.maint
+++ b/Makefile.maint
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # -*-Makefile-*-
 # This Makefile fragment is shared between fileutils, sh-utils, textutils.
 
-Makefile.in: Makefile.maint
-
 maintainer-check:
 	if head ChangeLog| grep 'Version $(VERSION)' > /dev/null; then \
 	  :; \