diff --git a/make/defs.mk b/make/defs.mk
index 4bcf311a..82828a2b 100644
--- a/make/defs.mk
+++ b/make/defs.mk
@@ -33,8 +33,9 @@ FLAVOUR_PATH_SUFFIX   ?= /win32
 endif
 
 # ----- executables
-SED                    = /usr/bin/sed
+SED                    = sed
 CAT                    = /bin/cat
+SHELL                  = /bin/bash
 
 PROJECT_DESCR_FILE    ?= $(wildcard $(TOPDIR)/doc/share/project.txt)
 PROJECT               ?= $(patsubst $(FLAVOUR_PREFIX)%,%,$(notdir $(shell cd $(TOPDIR); pwd | $(SED) 's/.*\///; s/-[0-9].*//')))