diff --git a/config/RULES_ARCHS b/config/RULES_ARCHS
index 5a42b9fa5..ffe5bc5f1 100644
--- a/config/RULES_ARCHS
+++ b/config/RULES_ARCHS
@@ -57,11 +57,6 @@ $(hostDirs) : $(EPICS_BASE)/config/makeMakefile.pl
 $(crossDirs) : $(EPICS_BASE)/config/makeMakefile.pl
 	$(PERL) $(EPICS_BASE)/config/makeMakefile.pl $@ Vx
 
-ifneq ($(EPICS_BASE),$(TOP))
-$(EPICS_BASE)/config/makeMakefile.pl : $(TOP)/config/makeMakefile.pl
-	$(CP) $(TOP)/config/makeMakefile.pl $(EPICS_BASE)/config/makeMakefile.pl
-endif
-
 #
 # host/cross action targets
 #