diff --git a/var.mk b/var.mk
index 3a36581d2..980629431 100644
--- a/var.mk
+++ b/var.mk
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ DIFF= diff
 DIG= dig
 DIRNAME= dirname
 ED= ed
-EGREP= egrep
+EGREP= grep -E
 ENV= env
 EQN= eqn
 ETAGS= etags