diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index 0913e0add..704404926 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -2176,6 +2176,7 @@ const char* cmMakefile::GetRequiredDefinition(const char* name) const
 bool cmMakefile::IsDefinitionSet(const char* name) const
 {
   const char* def = this->Internal->VarStack.top().Get(name);
+  this->Internal->VarUsageStack.top().insert(name);
   if(!def)
     {
     def = this->GetCacheManager()->GetCacheValue(name);