diff --git a/bld/f77/wfc/master.mif b/bld/f77/wfc/master.mif
index fe3e48342b..2ad042e209 100644
--- a/bld/f77/wfc/master.mif
+++ b/bld/f77/wfc/master.mif
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ xcode$(target_cpu).tmp: ../../a/code$(target_cpu).asm
 
 wfcmsgs.gh wfcmsgs.grh wfcgrps.gh wfcattrs.gh : ../../gml/wfcmsgs.gml
     @%make echo_msgencod
-    $(noecho)msgencod -s -ip -q -rc=MSG_LANG_BASE $(msgencod_enc_$(host_os)) $[@ wfcmsgs.gh wfcmsgs.grh wfcgrps.gh wfcattrs.gh
+    $(noecho)*msgencod -s -ip -q -rc=MSG_LANG_BASE $(msgencod_enc_$(host_os)) $[@ wfcmsgs.gh wfcmsgs.grh wfcgrps.gh wfcattrs.gh
 
 # optencod options and targets for various hosts
 !ifdef exetarg_qnx_res
diff --git a/bld/f77/wfl/master.mif b/bld/f77/wfl/master.mif
index ff0a2d5002..e8d5027f3f 100644
--- a/bld/f77/wfl/master.mif
+++ b/bld/f77/wfl/master.mif
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ wresui.res : ../../h/wfl.rc wflmsgs.gh wflmsgs.grh
 
 wflmsgs.gh wflmsgs.grh : ../../gml/wflmsgs.gml
     @%make echo_msgencod
-    $(noecho)msgencod -s -ip -q -rc=MSG_LANG_BASE $(msgencod_enc_$(host_os)) $[@ wflmsgs.gh wflmsgs.grh . .
+    $(noecho)*msgencod -s -ip -q -rc=MSG_LANG_BASE $(msgencod_enc_$(host_os)) $[@ wflmsgs.gh wflmsgs.grh . .
 
 
 # optencod options and targets for various hosts