diff --git a/usr.sbin/ntp/Makefile.inc b/usr.sbin/ntp/Makefile.inc
index 7f81ec390954..2ab26179d144 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/ntp/Makefile.inc
+++ b/usr.sbin/ntp/Makefile.inc
@@ -16,4 +16,6 @@ CFLAGS+= -DOPENSSL -DUSE_OPENSSL_CRYPTO_RAND -DAUTOKEY
 
 WARNS?=	0
 
+.export ECHO
+
 .include "../Makefile.inc"
diff --git a/usr.sbin/ntp/scripts/mkver b/usr.sbin/ntp/scripts/mkver
index 4e81652f8135..2d3e39dbd034 100755
--- a/usr.sbin/ntp/scripts/mkver
+++ b/usr.sbin/ntp/scripts/mkver
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 #
 PROG=${1-UNKNOWN}
 
+: ${ECHO:=echo}
+
 ConfStr="$PROG"
 
 ConfStr="$ConfStr 4.2.8p12"
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ echo $RUN > .version
 
 ConfStr="$ConfStr (${RUN})"
 
-echo "Version <${ConfStr}>";
+${ECHO} "Version <${ConfStr}>";
 
 rm -f version.c
 cat > version.c << -EoF-