diff --git a/make/defs.mk b/make/defs.mk
index 7ffbd12b..efc6ec20 100644
--- a/make/defs.mk
+++ b/make/defs.mk
@@ -125,11 +125,7 @@ define install_links
 		done;
 endef
 
-define uniq                  =
-  $(eval seen :=)
-  $(foreach _,$1,$(if $(filter $_,${seen}),,$(eval seen += $_)))
-  ${seen}
-endef
+uniq                         = $(if $1,$(firstword $1) $(call uniq,$(filter-out $(firstword $1),$1)))
 
 # ----- standard variables