diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index b62e7d0ab..912a98cb0 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Process this file with automake to produce Makefile.in
 
+NULL =
 SUBDIRS =
 DIST_SUBDIRS =
 BUILT_SOURCES =
diff --git a/src/Makefile.sources b/src/Makefile.sources
index 4349e0a7e..213aa22f6 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.sources
+++ b/src/Makefile.sources
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-NULL =
-
 # Base and default-included sources and headers
 
 HB_BASE_sources = \
diff --git a/test/shaping/data/text-rendering-tests/update.sh b/test/shaping/data/text-rendering-tests/update.sh
index 31960a14b..47545bcdb 100755
--- a/test/shaping/data/text-rendering-tests/update.sh
+++ b/test/shaping/data/text-rendering-tests/update.sh
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ test -d tests && git rm -rf tests || true
 test -d tests && (echo "tests/ dir not empty; investigate."; false)
 mkdir tests
 
-echo "NULL =" > Makefile.sources
-echo > Makefile.sources
 echo "TESTS = \\" > Makefile.sources
 
 DISABLED="DISBALED_TESTS = \\"
diff --git a/util/Makefile.am b/util/Makefile.am
index 2543a6091..e6620a237 100644
--- a/util/Makefile.am
+++ b/util/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Process this file with automake to produce Makefile.in
 
+NULL =
 EXTRA_DIST =
 CLEANFILES =
 DISTCLEANFILES =
diff --git a/util/Makefile.sources b/util/Makefile.sources
index 368fdb049..d6c00cc4d 100644
--- a/util/Makefile.sources
+++ b/util/Makefile.sources
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-NULL =
-
 HB_VIEW_sources = \
 	hb-view.cc \
 	options.cc \