diff --git a/dv/uvm/core_ibex/Makefile b/dv/uvm/core_ibex/Makefile
index 6d782ee2..d4277ef3 100644
--- a/dv/uvm/core_ibex/Makefile
+++ b/dv/uvm/core_ibex/Makefile
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ FORCE:
 # might print a message to the console explaining why we're rebuilding TGT).
 #
 # Call it as $(call vars-prereq,X,TGT,VS)
-vars-prereq = $(if $(call vars-differ,$(1),$(2),$(3)),FORCE,)
+vars-prereq = $(if $(call vars-differ,$(call strip,$(1)),$(2),$(3)),FORCE,)
 
 ###############################################################################
 # Get a list of tests and seeds