diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index a8d503e9..f65057ef 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 AC_INIT(src)
 
 # we don't want VERSION in our config.h
-if test -n "`grep '^#undef VERSION' $srcdir/config.h.in`"; then
+if grep '^#undef VERSION' $srcdir/config.h.in >/dev/null; then
   grep -v '^#undef VERSION' $srcdir/config.h.in > config.h.in.temp
   mv -f config.h.in.temp $srcdir/config.h.in
 fi