-MAKEINFOFLAGS=--no-split --number-sections -D 'VERSION $(VERSION)'
-TEXIFLAG=$(if $(V),,--quiet) --command='@set VERSION $(VERSION)'
+MAKEINFOFLAGS=--no-split --number-sections
+TEXIFLAG=$(if $(V),,--quiet)
+
+version.texi: $(SRC_PATH)/VERSION
+ $(call quiet-command,echo "@set VERSION $(VERSION)" > $@,"GEN","$@")