diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index ae2ea405f..8701eb7c5 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -30,12 +30,9 @@ SHELL = bash
 
 BUILT_SOURCES = .version
 
-CONFIGURE_DEPENDENCIES = .version
-
 .version: $(shell test -e .git && awk '{print ".git/" $$2}' .git/HEAD)
 	mv $@{,-prev} 2>/dev/null || touch $@-prev
 	( test -e .git && ./build-aux/git-version-gen .tarball-version || echo $(VERSION) ) > $@
-	touch -r $(or $<,configure) $@
 	cmp -s $@{,-prev} || autoreconf configure.ac --force -W none
 	sed -i -e '/rm -f/s/ core / /' configure aclocal.m4 ||: