diff --git a/build-aux/syntax-check.mk b/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
index 1410d1242f..70bf8c9d89 100644
--- a/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
+++ b/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
@@ -69,8 +69,6 @@ _sc_excl = \
   $(or $(exclude_file_name_regexp--$@),^$$)
 VC_LIST_EXCEPT = \
   $(VC_LIST) | $(SED) 's|^$(_dot_escaped_srcdir)/||' \
-	| if test -f $(srcdir)/.x-$@; then $(GREP) -vEf $(srcdir)/.x-$@; \
-	  else $(GREP) -Ev -e "$${VC_LIST_EXCEPT_DEFAULT-ChangeLog}"; fi \
 	| $(GREP) -Ev -e '($(VC_LIST_ALWAYS_EXCLUDE_REGEX)|$(_sc_excl))' \
 	$(_prepend_srcdir_prefix)