diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.build b/scripts/Makefile.build
index 359dd5cdf..2e18c3bd5 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.build
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.build
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ cleanup-y += $(_cleanup-y)
 .PHONY: all clean
 
 all: $(_all)
-	@echo > /dev/null
+	@true
 
 clean:
 	$(E) "  CLEANUP " $(obj)
diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.rules b/scripts/Makefile.rules
index d207a0503..229131091 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.rules
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.rules
@@ -49,4 +49,4 @@ endef
 ## together with .SUFFIXES not cleaned, this
 ## will slow down the build procedure
 scripts/Makefile.rules::
-	@echo > /dev/null
+	@true
diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.version b/scripts/Makefile.version
index 6aecb0ba9..f496357fb 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.version
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.version
@@ -22,4 +22,4 @@ $(VERSION_HEADER): Makefile scripts/Makefile.version
 ## together with .SUFFIXES not cleaned, this
 ## will slow down the build procedure
 scripts/Makefile.version::
-	@echo > /dev/null
+	@true
diff --git a/test/zdtm/lib/Makefile b/test/zdtm/lib/Makefile
index f494df64c..37d99bafb 100644
--- a/test/zdtm/lib/Makefile
+++ b/test/zdtm/lib/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ DEPEND.c = $(COMPILE.c) -MM -MP
 	$(DEPEND.c) $(OUTPUT_OPTION) $<
 
 all:	$(LIB)
-	@echo > /dev/null
+	@true
 install: all
 .PHONY: all install