diff --git a/Source/cmMakefileExecutableTargetGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmMakefileExecutableTargetGenerator.cxx
index 8730ccd67..3b8bf5a5d 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefileExecutableTargetGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefileExecutableTargetGenerator.cxx
@@ -277,27 +277,10 @@ void cmMakefileExecutableTargetGenerator::WriteExecutableRule(bool relink)
     }
   }
 
-  // Select whether to use a response file for objects.
-  bool useResponseFileForObjects = false;
-  {
-    std::string responseVar = "CMAKE_";
-    responseVar += linkLanguage;
-    responseVar += "_USE_RESPONSE_FILE_FOR_OBJECTS";
-    if (this->Makefile->IsOn(responseVar)) {
-      useResponseFileForObjects = true;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // Select whether to use a response file for libraries.
-  bool useResponseFileForLibs = false;
-  {
-    std::string responseVar = "CMAKE_";
-    responseVar += linkLanguage;
-    responseVar += "_USE_RESPONSE_FILE_FOR_LIBRARIES";
-    if (this->Makefile->IsOn(responseVar)) {
-      useResponseFileForLibs = true;
-    }
-  }
+  bool useResponseFileForObjects =
+    this->CheckUseResponseFileForObjects(linkLanguage);
+  bool const useResponseFileForLibs =
+    this->CheckUseResponseFileForLibraries(linkLanguage);
 
   // Expand the rule variables.
   {
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefileLibraryTargetGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmMakefileLibraryTargetGenerator.cxx
index 7de2db023..68f8ff12a 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefileLibraryTargetGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefileLibraryTargetGenerator.cxx
@@ -429,27 +429,10 @@ void cmMakefileLibraryTargetGenerator::WriteLibraryRules(
   // Determine whether a link script will be used.
   bool useLinkScript = this->GlobalGenerator->GetUseLinkScript();
 
-  // Select whether to use a response file for objects.
-  bool useResponseFileForObjects = false;
-  {
-    std::string responseVar = "CMAKE_";
-    responseVar += linkLanguage;
-    responseVar += "_USE_RESPONSE_FILE_FOR_OBJECTS";
-    if (this->Makefile->IsOn(responseVar)) {
-      useResponseFileForObjects = true;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // Select whether to use a response file for libraries.
-  bool useResponseFileForLibs = false;
-  {
-    std::string responseVar = "CMAKE_";
-    responseVar += linkLanguage;
-    responseVar += "_USE_RESPONSE_FILE_FOR_LIBRARIES";
-    if (this->Makefile->IsOn(responseVar)) {
-      useResponseFileForLibs = true;
-    }
-  }
+  bool useResponseFileForObjects =
+    this->CheckUseResponseFileForObjects(linkLanguage);
+  bool const useResponseFileForLibs =
+    this->CheckUseResponseFileForLibraries(linkLanguage);
 
   // For static libraries there might be archiving rules.
   bool haveStaticLibraryRule = false;
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx
index 00b1219ea..abf50d65c 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.cxx
@@ -1447,6 +1447,38 @@ void cmMakefileTargetGenerator::CreateLinkScript(
   makefile_depends.push_back(linkScriptName);
 }
 
+bool cmMakefileTargetGenerator::CheckUseResponseFileForObjects(
+  std::string const& l) const
+{
+  // Check for an explicit setting one way or the other.
+  std::string const responseVar =
+    "CMAKE_" + l + "_USE_RESPONSE_FILE_FOR_OBJECTS";
+  if (const char* val = this->Makefile->GetDefinition(responseVar)) {
+    if (*val) {
+      return cmSystemTools::IsOn(val);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // We do not need a response file for objects.
+  return false;
+}
+
+bool cmMakefileTargetGenerator::CheckUseResponseFileForLibraries(
+  std::string const& l) const
+{
+  // Check for an explicit setting one way or the other.
+  std::string const responseVar =
+    "CMAKE_" + l + "_USE_RESPONSE_FILE_FOR_LIBRARIES";
+  if (const char* val = this->Makefile->GetDefinition(responseVar)) {
+    if (*val) {
+      return cmSystemTools::IsOn(val);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // We do not need a response file for libraries.
+  return false;
+}
+
 std::string cmMakefileTargetGenerator::CreateResponseFile(
   const char* name, std::string const& options,
   std::vector<std::string>& makefile_depends)
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.h b/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.h
index 4284549fc..29b888739 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.h
+++ b/Source/cmMakefileTargetGenerator.h
@@ -151,6 +151,9 @@ protected:
   std::string CreateResponseFile(const char* name, std::string const& options,
                                  std::vector<std::string>& makefile_depends);
 
+  bool CheckUseResponseFileForObjects(std::string const& l) const;
+  bool CheckUseResponseFileForLibraries(std::string const& l) const;
+
   /** Create list of flags for link libraries. */
   void CreateLinkLibs(std::string& linkLibs, bool relink, bool useResponseFile,
                       std::vector<std::string>& makefile_depends,