diff --git a/RepositoryExternal.mk b/RepositoryExternal.mk
index 5bbe84ed15d4..bdc5cdffc1d2 100644
--- a/RepositoryExternal.mk
+++ b/RepositoryExternal.mk
@@ -1308,7 +1308,7 @@ $(call gb_LinkTarget_set_include,$(1),\
 endef
 
 
-ifdef ($(SYSTEM_HSQLDB),YES)
+ifeq ($(SYSTEM_HSQLDB),YES)
 
 define gb_LinkTarget__use_hsqldb