diff --git a/editor/Makefile b/editor/Makefile
index d06f8404..7d9b7038 100644
--- a/editor/Makefile
+++ b/editor/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ include ../build-aux/dirs.mak
 OPTLEVEL?=$(DEFAULT_OPTLEVEL)
 CFLAGS?=$(OPTLEVEL)
 
-CPPFLAGS:=$(CPPFLAGS) -DVERSIONSTR=\"$(VERSION)\"
 CFLAGS:=$(CFLAGS) -Wall -Wextra
 
 ifeq ($(HOST_IS_SORTIX),0)
diff --git a/init/Makefile b/init/Makefile
index a795eb17..6ec3626d 100644
--- a/init/Makefile
+++ b/init/Makefile
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ OPTLEVEL?=$(DEFAULT_OPTLEVEL)
 CFLAGS?=$(OPTLEVEL)
 
 CFLAGS:=$(CFLAGS) -Wall -Wextra
-CPPFLAGS:=$(CPPFLAGS) -DVERSIONSTR=\"$(VERSION)\"
 
 BINARY=init
 
diff --git a/login/Makefile b/login/Makefile
index 6b88aa28..f295cc72 100644
--- a/login/Makefile
+++ b/login/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ include ../build-aux/dirs.mak
 OPTLEVEL?=$(DEFAULT_OPTLEVEL)
 CFLAGS?=$(OPTLEVEL)
 
-CPPFLAGS:=$(CPPFLAGS) -DVERSIONSTR=\"$(VERSION)\"
 CFLAGS:=$(CXXFLAGS) -Wall -Wextra
 
 BINARY=login