diff --git a/build-aux/syntax-check.mk b/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
index 80420eada544a137f486d5ecdc71b2cee4ddef4b..58a24b6276904aff7e702a9b45b9ba292e9350bf 100644
--- a/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
+++ b/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ sc_prohibit_cross_inclusion:
 	      safe="($$dir|util|conf|storage)";; \
 	    *) safe="($$dir|$(mid_dirs)|util)";; \
 	  esac; \
-	  in_vc_files="^src/$$dir" \
+	  in_vc_files="src/$$dir" \
 	  prohibit='^# *include .$(cross_dirs_re)' \
 	  exclude="# *include .$$safe" \
 	  halt='unsafe cross-directory include' \