diff --git a/share/mk/local.meta.sys.mk b/share/mk/local.meta.sys.mk
index 29b9687ae93..2173dec8e66 100644
--- a/share/mk/local.meta.sys.mk
+++ b/share/mk/local.meta.sys.mk
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ MK_INSTALL_AS_USER= yes
 _default_makeobjdir=$${.CURDIR:S,^$${SRCTOP},$${OBJTOP},}
 
 .if empty(OBJROOT) || ${.MAKE.LEVEL} == 0
-.if !make(showconfig)
 .if defined(MAKEOBJDIRPREFIX)
 # put things approximately where they want
 OBJROOT:=${MAKEOBJDIRPREFIX}${SRCTOP}/
@@ -25,7 +24,6 @@ MAKEOBJDIR=${_default_makeobjdir}
 # Expand for our own use
 MAKEOBJDIR:= ${MAKEOBJDIR}
 .endif
-.endif
 .if !empty(SB)
 SB_OBJROOT ?= ${SB}/obj/
 # this is what we use below
diff --git a/share/mk/sys.mk b/share/mk/sys.mk
index ae2df0578d4..9ee35b1783a 100644
--- a/share/mk/sys.mk
+++ b/share/mk/sys.mk
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ __DEFAULT_DEPENDENT_OPTIONS= \
 .endif
 .if ${MK_AUTO_OBJ} == "yes"
 # This needs to be done early - before .PATH is computed
-# Don't do this if just running make -V
-.if ${.MAKEFLAGS:M-V} == ""
+# Don't do this if just running 'make -V' or 'make showconfig'
+.if ${.MAKEFLAGS:M-V} == "" && !make(showconfig)
 .sinclude <auto.obj.mk>
 .endif
 .endif