diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 61c2c02a90..e35f12c43d 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -166,9 +166,7 @@ $(HUGE): $(ASCIIPAGE) $(MKHELP)
 endif
 else # PERL
 $(HUGE):
-	(if test -f "$(srcdir)/$(HUGE)"; then \
-	  cp -p "$(srcdir)/$(HUGE)" .; \
-	else \
+	(if test ! -f "$(srcdir)/$(HUGE)"; then \
 	  echo '/* !checksrc! disable COPYRIGHT all */' > $(HUGE); \
 	  echo '#include "tool_hugehelp.h"' >> $(HUGE);            \
 	  echo 'void hugehelp(void) {}' >> $(HUGE);                \