diff --git a/qmake/generators/makefile.cpp b/qmake/generators/makefile.cpp
index 6a46df1af66..7762e47f413 100644
--- a/qmake/generators/makefile.cpp
+++ b/qmake/generators/makefile.cpp
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ bool MakefileGenerator::canExecute(const QStringList &cmdline, int *a) const
 
 QString MakefileGenerator::mkdir_p_asstring(const QString &dir, bool escape) const
 {
-    QString edir = escape ? escapeFilePath(Option::fixPathToTargetOS(dir, false, false)) : dir;
-    return "@" + makedir.arg(edir);
+    return "@" + makedir.arg(
+        escape ? escapeFilePath(Option::fixPathToTargetOS(dir, false, false)) : dir);
 }
 
 bool MakefileGenerator::mkdir(const QString &in_path) const