diff --git a/auto/lib/pcre/makefile.bcc b/auto/lib/pcre/makefile.bcc
index 9fd821d64..239d1293a 100644
--- a/auto/lib/pcre/makefile.bcc
+++ b/auto/lib/pcre/makefile.bcc
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@ pcre.lib:	pcre.h
 pcre.h:
 	patch -o pcre.h pcre.in patch.pcre.in
 	patch -o config.h config.in patch.config.in
-	patch -o pcre.c pcre.c patch.pcre.c
+	patch < patch.pcre.c
diff --git a/auto/lib/pcre/makefile.msvc b/auto/lib/pcre/makefile.msvc
index 4da4e0c39..8c4092082 100644
--- a/auto/lib/pcre/makefile.msvc
+++ b/auto/lib/pcre/makefile.msvc
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ pcre.lib:	pcre.h
 pcre.h:
 	patch -o pcre.h pcre.in patch.pcre.in
 	patch -o config.h config.in patch.config.in
-	patch -o pcre.c pcre.c patch.pcre.c
+	patch < patch.pcre.c