diff --git a/make/rpmdist.mk b/make/rpmdist.mk
index 31a067df..e45eb677 100644
--- a/make/rpmdist.mk
+++ b/make/rpmdist.mk
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ endef
 
 else
 
-SCM_COMMIT = git commit -a
+SCM_COMMIT = git commit
 SCM_ADD    = git add
 SCM_PUSH   = git push
 SCM_PULL   = git pull
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ define check_scm_sync
 	$(SCM_PULL) || {\
 		echo "$(SCM_PULL) failed, giving up" ;\
 		exit 1 ;\
-	} \
+	} ;\
 	git status -s > git_status.tmp 2>&1 ;\
 	if [ $$? != 0 ]; then \
 		$(CAT) git_status.tmp ;\