diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 445c935..0ccbce5 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 # -*- Makefile -*-
-ifndef $(CFLAGS)
+ifndef CFLAGS
 	CFLAGS= -O3 -lncurses -Wno-unused-result
 	#-O3 --std=c99 -lcurses -DNO_MOUSE for NetBSD curses
 	#adding --std=c99 makes warnings in GNU, and the blame is upon glibc feature test macros. my code is correct.
 endif
-ifndef $(GAMES_DIR)
+ifndef GAMES_DIR
 	GAMES_DIR=/usr/games
 endif
-ifndef $(SCORES_DIR)
+ifndef SCORES_DIR
 	SCORES_DIR=/usr/games
 endif
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