diff --git a/tools/database/database.make b/tools/database/database.make
index c29dd47f9b..7fc360232e 100644
--- a/tools/database/database.make
+++ b/tools/database/database.make
@@ -9,9 +9,11 @@
 
 GCCOPTS += -g -DDEBUG -D__PCTOOL__ -DDBTOOL
 
-createsrc = $(shell cat $(1) > $(3); echo "\#if CONFIG_CODEC == SWCODEC" >> $(3); \
+# Make compatibility hack
+H := \#
+createsrc = $(shell cat $(1) > $(3); echo "$(H)if CONFIG_CODEC == SWCODEC" >> $(3); \
                                      echo $(2) | sed 's/ /\n/g' >> $(3); \
-                                     echo "\#endif" >> $(3); \
+                                     echo "$(H)endif" >> $(3); \
                                      echo $(3))
 
 METADATAS := $(call full_path_subst,$(ROOTDIR)/%,../../%,$(wildcard $(ROOTDIR)/lib/rbcodec/metadata/*.c))