diff --git a/Master/aggregate.make b/Master/aggregate.make
index dc28d0d7..e91fa552 100644
--- a/Master/aggregate.make
+++ b/Master/aggregate.make
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ endif
 # The list of directory names with the subprojects is in the makefile 
 # variable SUBPROJECTS
 #
-SUBPROJECTS:=$(strip $(SUBPROJECTS))
+SUBPROJECTS := $(strip $(SUBPROJECTS))
 
 #
 # Internal targets
diff --git a/Master/application.make b/Master/application.make
index 85de0363..4b4a6836 100644
--- a/Master/application.make
+++ b/Master/application.make
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ ifeq ($(RULES_MAKE_LOADED),)
 include $(GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES)/rules.make
 endif
 
-APP_NAME:=$(strip $(APP_NAME))
+APP_NAME := $(strip $(APP_NAME))
 
 internal-all:: $(APP_NAME:=.all.app.variables)
 
diff --git a/Master/bundle.make b/Master/bundle.make
index da421c25..fed57418 100644
--- a/Master/bundle.make
+++ b/Master/bundle.make
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ ifeq ($(RULES_MAKE_LOADED),)
 include $(GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES)/rules.make
 endif
 
-BUNDLE_NAME:=$(strip $(BUNDLE_NAME))
+BUNDLE_NAME := $(strip $(BUNDLE_NAME))
 
 internal-all:: $(BUNDLE_NAME:=.all.bundle.variables)
 
diff --git a/Master/java-tool.make b/Master/java-tool.make
index 280bad84..5a4f046e 100644
--- a/Master/java-tool.make
+++ b/Master/java-tool.make
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 # xxx_PRINCIPAL_CLASS variable.
 #
 
-JAVA_TOOL_NAME:=$(strip $(JAVA_TOOL_NAME))
+JAVA_TOOL_NAME := $(strip $(JAVA_TOOL_NAME))
 
 ifeq ($(RULES_MAKE_LOADED),)
 include $(GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES)/rules.make
diff --git a/Master/java.make b/Master/java.make
index ff9c3992..7103536d 100644
--- a/Master/java.make
+++ b/Master/java.make
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ ifeq ($(RULES_MAKE_LOADED),)
 include $(GNUSTEP_MAKEFILES)/rules.make
 endif
 
-JAVA_PACKAGE_NAME:=$(strip $(JAVA_PACKAGE_NAME))
+JAVA_PACKAGE_NAME := $(strip $(JAVA_PACKAGE_NAME))
 
 internal-all:: $(JAVA_PACKAGE_NAME:=.all.java-package.variables)