diff --git a/.x-sc_prohibit_strcmp b/.x-sc_prohibit_strcmp
index fdceaf00b..56631abf1 100644
--- a/.x-sc_prohibit_strcmp
+++ b/.x-sc_prohibit_strcmp
@@ -1,2 +1 @@
-^src/system\.h
 ChangeLog
diff --git a/maint.mk b/maint.mk
index a7d0b860b..cb3c6a56d 100644
--- a/maint.mk
+++ b/maint.mk
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ sc_prohibit_atoi_atof:
 # Use STREQ rather than comparing strcmp == 0, or != 0.
 sc_prohibit_strcmp:
 	@grep -nE '! *str''cmp *\(|\<str''cmp *\([^)]+\) *=='		\
-	    $$($(VC_LIST_EXCEPT)) &&					\
+	    $$($(VC_LIST_EXCEPT))					\
+	  | grep -vE ':# *define STREQ\(' &&				\
 	  { echo '$(ME): use STREQ in place of the above uses of str''cmp' \
 		1>&2; exit 1; } || :