diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b0d59b3e8e..ea1866ad4f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -42,12 +42,9 @@
 #
 
 ifeq ($(wildcard .config),)
-.DEFAULT:
+.DEFAULT default:
 	@echo "Nuttx has not been configured:"
 	@echo "  tools/configure.sh <target>"
-
-clean distclean:
-	@:
 else
 include .config
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)