diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ccb9bc0152b6a6..594dec3aa844ce 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1229,9 +1229,9 @@ lint-md-build:
 	$(warning "Deprecated no-op target 'lint-md-build'")
 
 ifeq ("$(wildcard tools/.mdlintstamp)","")
-	LINT_MD_NEWER =
+LINT_MD_NEWER =
 else
-	LINT_MD_NEWER = -newer tools/.mdlintstamp
+LINT_MD_NEWER = -newer tools/.mdlintstamp
 endif
 
 LINT_MD_TARGETS = doc src lib benchmark test tools/doc tools/icu $(wildcard *.md)