diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 6b60a49a3..8fee78f0d 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ parms.h:	Makefile
 		@echo "#define YAP_CFLAGS	    \"$(CFLAGS)\"" >> $@%
 		@echo "#define YAP_LDFLAGS    \"$(LDFLAGS)\""    >> $@%
 		@echo "#define YAP_SHLIB_SUFFIX    \"$(SHLIB_SUFFIX)\""    >> $@%
-		@echo | $(AWK) '{ printf("#define YAP_TIMESTAMP %d\n", systime()); }' >> $@%
+		@echo "#define YAP_TIMESTAMP \"`date +%s`\"" >> $@%
 		@if cmp -s $@% $@; then rm $@%; else mv $@% $@; fi