diff --git a/config/CONFIG_HOST_ARCH.UnixCommon b/config/CONFIG_HOST_ARCH.UnixCommon
index 52e3a55b8..23308c4b3 100644
--- a/config/CONFIG_HOST_ARCH.UnixCommon
+++ b/config/CONFIG_HOST_ARCH.UnixCommon
@@ -9,5 +9,4 @@ RM = rm -f
 MKDIR = mkdir
 RMDIR = rm -rf
 CHMOD = "/bin/chmod"
-WHAT = what
 
diff --git a/config/CONFIG_HOST_ARCH.WIN32 b/config/CONFIG_HOST_ARCH.WIN32
index e1fcbbda6..232272128 100644
--- a/config/CONFIG_HOST_ARCH.WIN32
+++ b/config/CONFIG_HOST_ARCH.WIN32
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ RM   =$(PERL) $(EPICS_BASE_HOST_BIN)/rm.pl -f
 MKDIR=$(PERL) $(EPICS_BASE_HOST_BIN)/mkdir.pl
 RMDIR=$(PERL) $(EPICS_BASE_HOST_BIN)/rm.pl -rf
 CHMOD=echo
-WHAT=echo
 ECHO=echo
 
 WIND_HOST_TYPE = x86-win32