diff --git a/src/makeBaseApp/top/config/RULES.Vx b/src/makeBaseApp/top/config/RULES.Vx
index 1e4aaf047..1f7b59b10 100644
--- a/src/makeBaseApp/top/config/RULES.Vx
+++ b/src/makeBaseApp/top/config/RULES.Vx
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 #RULES.Vx
 include $(EPICS_BASE)/config/RULES.Vx
 inc:: $(INSTALL_INCREC)
+#
+# turn off implicit rules search for all binaries in base
+#
+$(EPICS_BASE_BIN)/* : ;