diff --git a/arch/ia64/Makefile b/arch/ia64/Makefile
index 3e9da5e6c3bdde5bfc1edc4b508e0af58317a430..467b7e7f967c607eda09e8ba24e6c587b518a184 100644
--- a/arch/ia64/Makefile
+++ b/arch/ia64/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 KBUILD_DEFCONFIG := generic_defconfig
 
 NM := $(CROSS_COMPILE)nm -B
-READELF := $(CROSS_COMPILE)readelf
 
 CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__ia64=1 -D__ia64__=1 -D_LP64 -D__LP64__