diff --git a/py/mkrules.mk b/py/mkrules.mk
index b71450a21d..bc6389144b 100644
--- a/py/mkrules.mk
+++ b/py/mkrules.mk
@@ -71,12 +71,7 @@ $(OBJ): | $(HEADER_BUILD)/qstrdefs.generated.h $(HEADER_BUILD)/mpversion.h
 
 $(HEADER_BUILD)/qstr.i.last: $(SRC_QSTR) | $(HEADER_BUILD)/mpversion.h
 	$(ECHO) "GEN $@"
-	$(Q)if [ "$?" = "" ]; then \
-	    echo "QSTR Looks like -B used, trying to emulate"; \
-	    $(CPP) $(QSTR_GEN_EXTRA_CFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) $^ >$(HEADER_BUILD)/qstr.i.last; \
-	else \
-	    $(CPP) $(QSTR_GEN_EXTRA_CFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) $? >$(HEADER_BUILD)/qstr.i.last; \
-	fi
+	$(Q)$(CPP) $(QSTR_GEN_EXTRA_CFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) $? >$(HEADER_BUILD)/qstr.i.last;
 
 $(HEADER_BUILD)/qstr.split: $(HEADER_BUILD)/qstr.i.last
 	$(ECHO) "GEN $@"