diff --git a/configure/CONFIG_COMMON b/configure/CONFIG_COMMON
index 4527e997a..af28c3142 100644
--- a/configure/CONFIG_COMMON
+++ b/configure/CONFIG_COMMON
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ DB_OPT = NO
 #-------------------------------------------------------
 # Check configure/RELEASE file for consistency
 CHECK_RELEASE_YES = checkRelease
-CHECK_RELEASE_NO =
+CHECK_RELEASE_NO = noCheckRelease
 CHECK_RELEASE_WARN = warnRelease
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/configure/RULES_BUILD b/configure/RULES_BUILD
index f2f1b164a..0d6de95ff 100644
--- a/configure/RULES_BUILD
+++ b/configure/RULES_BUILD
@@ -167,6 +167,10 @@ checkRelease:
 	$(CONVERTRELEASE) checkRelease
 warnRelease:
 	-$(CONVERTRELEASE) checkRelease
+noCheckRelease:
+ifeq ($(EPICS_HOST_ARCH),$(T_A))
+	@echo "Warning: RELEASE file consistency checks have been disabled"
+endif
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------------
 #  The order of the following rules is
@@ -458,7 +462,7 @@ $(INSTALL_TEMPLATES_SUBDIR)/%: %
 .PRECIOUS: $(COMMON_INC)
 
 .PHONY: all inc build install clean rebuild buildInstall
-.PHONY: runtests checkRelease warnRelease
+.PHONY: runtests checkRelease warnRelease noCheckRelease
 
 endif # BASE_RULES_BUILD
 #	EOF RULES_BUILD