diff --git a/make/projects-dir.mk b/make/projects-dir.mk
index c1bbcbbf..44d9c89c 100644
--- a/make/projects-dir.mk
+++ b/make/projects-dir.mk
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ endif
 
 BUILD_PROJECTS = $(filter-out $(EXCLUDE_FROM_BUILD),$(PROJECTS))
 
-ifndef ($(JANWARE_USER),)
+ifndef JANWARE_USER
   export JANWARE_USER = $(shell id -un)
   $(warning Assuming JANWARE_USER=$(JANWARE_USER), explicitly set environment variable to turn off this warning!)
 endif