diff --git a/Source/cmListFileCache.cxx b/Source/cmListFileCache.cxx
index 4df542f6b..44604186d 100644
--- a/Source/cmListFileCache.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmListFileCache.cxx
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ bool cmListFileParser::ParseFile()
   return true;
 }
 
-bool cmListFile::ParseFile(const char* filename, bool topLevel, cmMakefile* mf)
+bool cmListFile::ParseFile(const char* filename, cmMakefile* mf)
 {
   if (!cmSystemTools::FileExists(filename) ||
       cmSystemTools::FileIsDirectory(filename)) {
@@ -132,76 +132,6 @@ bool cmListFile::ParseFile(const char* filename, bool topLevel, cmMakefile* mf)
     parseError = !parser.ParseFile();
   }
 
-  // do we need a cmake_policy(VERSION call?
-  if (topLevel) {
-    bool hasVersion = false;
-    // search for the right policy command
-    for (std::vector<cmListFileFunction>::iterator i = this->Functions.begin();
-         i != this->Functions.end(); ++i) {
-      if (cmSystemTools::LowerCase(i->Name) == "cmake_minimum_required") {
-        hasVersion = true;
-        break;
-      }
-    }
-    // if no policy command is found this is an error if they use any
-    // non advanced functions or a lot of functions
-    if (!hasVersion) {
-      bool isProblem = true;
-      if (this->Functions.size() < 30) {
-        // the list of simple commands DO NOT ADD TO THIS LIST!!!!!
-        // these commands must have backwards compatibility forever and
-        // and that is a lot longer than your tiny mind can comprehend mortal
-        std::set<std::string> allowedCommands;
-        allowedCommands.insert("project");
-        allowedCommands.insert("set");
-        allowedCommands.insert("if");
-        allowedCommands.insert("endif");
-        allowedCommands.insert("else");
-        allowedCommands.insert("elseif");
-        allowedCommands.insert("add_executable");
-        allowedCommands.insert("add_library");
-        allowedCommands.insert("target_link_libraries");
-        allowedCommands.insert("option");
-        allowedCommands.insert("message");
-        isProblem = false;
-        for (std::vector<cmListFileFunction>::iterator i =
-               this->Functions.begin();
-             i != this->Functions.end(); ++i) {
-          std::string name = cmSystemTools::LowerCase(i->Name);
-          if (allowedCommands.find(name) == allowedCommands.end()) {
-            isProblem = true;
-            break;
-          }
-        }
-      }
-
-      if (isProblem) {
-        // Tell the top level cmMakefile to diagnose
-        // this violation of CMP0000.
-        mf->SetCheckCMP0000(true);
-
-        // Implicitly set the version for the user.
-        mf->SetPolicyVersion("2.4");
-      }
-    }
-    bool hasProject = false;
-    // search for a project command
-    for (std::vector<cmListFileFunction>::iterator i = this->Functions.begin();
-         i != this->Functions.end(); ++i) {
-      if (cmSystemTools::LowerCase(i->Name) == "project") {
-        hasProject = true;
-        break;
-      }
-    }
-    // if no project command is found, add one
-    if (!hasProject) {
-      cmListFileFunction project;
-      project.Name = "PROJECT";
-      cmListFileArgument prj("Project", cmListFileArgument::Unquoted, 0);
-      project.Arguments.push_back(prj);
-      this->Functions.insert(this->Functions.begin(), project);
-    }
-  }
   return !parseError;
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmListFileCache.h b/Source/cmListFileCache.h
index d72c36045..f3e6f7008 100644
--- a/Source/cmListFileCache.h
+++ b/Source/cmListFileCache.h
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ private:
 
 struct cmListFile
 {
-  bool ParseFile(const char* path, bool topLevel, cmMakefile* mf);
+  bool ParseFile(const char* path, cmMakefile* mf);
 
   std::vector<cmListFileFunction> Functions;
 };
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index c9192fdeb..95ca0e2b8 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ bool cmMakefile::ReadDependentFile(const char* filename, bool noPolicyScope)
   IncludeScope incScope(this, filenametoread, noPolicyScope);
 
   cmListFile listFile;
-  if (!listFile.ParseFile(filenametoread.c_str(), false, this)) {
+  if (!listFile.ParseFile(filenametoread.c_str(), this)) {
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ bool cmMakefile::ReadListFile(const char* filename)
   ListFileScope scope(this, filenametoread);
 
   cmListFile listFile;
-  if (!listFile.ParseFile(filenametoread.c_str(), false, this)) {
+  if (!listFile.ParseFile(filenametoread.c_str(), this)) {
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -1423,10 +1423,81 @@ void cmMakefile::Configure()
   this->AddDefinition("CMAKE_PARENT_LIST_FILE", currentStart.c_str());
 
   cmListFile listFile;
-  if (!listFile.ParseFile(currentStart.c_str(), this->IsRootMakefile(),
-                          this)) {
+  if (!listFile.ParseFile(currentStart.c_str(), this)) {
     return;
   }
+  if (this->IsRootMakefile()) {
+    bool hasVersion = false;
+    // search for the right policy command
+    for (std::vector<cmListFileFunction>::iterator i =
+           listFile.Functions.begin();
+         i != listFile.Functions.end(); ++i) {
+      if (cmSystemTools::LowerCase(i->Name) == "cmake_minimum_required") {
+        hasVersion = true;
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+    // if no policy command is found this is an error if they use any
+    // non advanced functions or a lot of functions
+    if (!hasVersion) {
+      bool isProblem = true;
+      if (listFile.Functions.size() < 30) {
+        // the list of simple commands DO NOT ADD TO THIS LIST!!!!!
+        // these commands must have backwards compatibility forever and
+        // and that is a lot longer than your tiny mind can comprehend mortal
+        std::set<std::string> allowedCommands;
+        allowedCommands.insert("project");
+        allowedCommands.insert("set");
+        allowedCommands.insert("if");
+        allowedCommands.insert("endif");
+        allowedCommands.insert("else");
+        allowedCommands.insert("elseif");
+        allowedCommands.insert("add_executable");
+        allowedCommands.insert("add_library");
+        allowedCommands.insert("target_link_libraries");
+        allowedCommands.insert("option");
+        allowedCommands.insert("message");
+        isProblem = false;
+        for (std::vector<cmListFileFunction>::iterator i =
+               listFile.Functions.begin();
+             i != listFile.Functions.end(); ++i) {
+          std::string name = cmSystemTools::LowerCase(i->Name);
+          if (allowedCommands.find(name) == allowedCommands.end()) {
+            isProblem = true;
+            break;
+          }
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (isProblem) {
+        // Tell the top level cmMakefile to diagnose
+        // this violation of CMP0000.
+        this->SetCheckCMP0000(true);
+
+        // Implicitly set the version for the user.
+        this->SetPolicyVersion("2.4");
+      }
+    }
+    bool hasProject = false;
+    // search for a project command
+    for (std::vector<cmListFileFunction>::iterator i =
+           listFile.Functions.begin();
+         i != listFile.Functions.end(); ++i) {
+      if (cmSystemTools::LowerCase(i->Name) == "project") {
+        hasProject = true;
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+    // if no project command is found, add one
+    if (!hasProject) {
+      cmListFileFunction project;
+      project.Name = "PROJECT";
+      cmListFileArgument prj("Project", cmListFileArgument::Unquoted, 0);
+      project.Arguments.push_back(prj);
+      listFile.Functions.insert(listFile.Functions.begin(), project);
+    }
+  }
+
   this->ReadListFile(listFile, currentStart);
   if (cmSystemTools::GetFatalErrorOccured()) {
     scope.Quiet();