diff --git a/config/RULES.Host b/config/RULES.Host
index b3c0922f6..9e6d9b0da 100644
--- a/config/RULES.Host
+++ b/config/RULES.Host
@@ -508,7 +508,6 @@ $(INSTALL_JAVA)/%.jar: %.jar
 
 depends:: $(LIBSRCS) $(SRCS) $(COND_PROD_SRCS)
 	$(RM) DEPENDS
-	touch DEPENDS
 	$(DEPENDS_RULE)
 
 %$(EXE): %.c
diff --git a/config/RULES.Vx b/config/RULES.Vx
index 394cd959c..27cc26fca 100644
--- a/config/RULES.Vx
+++ b/config/RULES.Vx
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ endif
 
 depends:: $(SRCS.c) $(SRCS.cc)
 	$(RM) DEPENDS
-	touch DEPENDS
 	$(DEPENDS_RULE)
 
 clean::