diff --git a/Makefile.base.mk b/Makefile.base.mk
index 9670bcfc..a1d4a736 100644
--- a/Makefile.base.mk
+++ b/Makefile.base.mk
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ DPF_MAKEFILE_BASE_INCLUDED = true
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Auto-detect target compiler if not defined
 
-ifeq ($(shell echo '\#test' | grep -- '\#test'),\#test)
-TARGET_COMPILER = $(shell echo '\#ifdef __clang__\nclang\n\#else\ngcc\n\#endif' | $(CC) -E -P -x c - 2>/dev/null)
-else
+ifeq ($(shell echo -e escaped-by-default | grep -- '-e escaped-by-default'),-e escaped-by-default)
 TARGET_COMPILER = $(shell echo '#ifdef __clang__\nclang\n#else\ngcc\n#endif' | $(CC) -E -P -x c - 2>/dev/null)
+else
+TARGET_COMPILER = $(shell echo '\#ifdef __clang__\nclang\n\#else\ngcc\n\#endif' | $(CC) -E -P -x c - 2>/dev/null)
 endif
 
 ifneq ($(CLANG),true)