diff --git a/cmake/utils.cmake b/cmake/utils.cmake
index c5ee65384..56c1cb060 100644
--- a/cmake/utils.cmake
+++ b/cmake/utils.cmake
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ macro(ParseMakefileVars MAKEFILE_IN)
     if (NOT "${line_match}" STREQUAL "")
       #message(STATUS "${CMAKE_MATCH_1} first: ${CMAKE_MATCH_2}")
       set (ElseSeen 0)
-      if (DEFINED ${CMAKE_MATCH_2})
+      if (${CMAKE_MATCH_2})
         if (${CMAKE_MATCH_1} STREQUAL "ifdef")
           #message (STATUS "condition is true")
           set (IfElse 1)