diff --git a/rules.mk b/rules.mk
index 078ebe3faa..e61cc3fde9 100644
--- a/rules.mk
+++ b/rules.mk
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ strip_last=$(patsubst %.$(lastword $(subst .,$(space),$(1))),%,$(1))
 
 define sep
 
+endef
+
+define newline
+
+
 endef
 
 _SINGLE=export MAKEFLAGS=$(space);