diff --git a/cpu/mips/config.mk b/cpu/mips/config.mk
index 487c4eb5d6..ad03bd61ba 100644
--- a/cpu/mips/config.mk
+++ b/cpu/mips/config.mk
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@
 # Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston,
 # MA 02111-1307 USA
 #
-v=$(shell \
-$(CROSS_COMPILE)as --version|grep "GNU assembler"|awk '{print $$3}'|awk -F . '{print $$2}')
+v=$(shell $(AS) --version |grep "GNU assembler" |cut -d. -f2)
 MIPSFLAGS=$(shell \
 if [ "$v" -lt "14" ]; then \
 	echo "-mcpu=4kc"; \