diff --git a/scripts/Kbuild.include b/scripts/Kbuild.include
index cce31ee876b6..50cee534fd64 100644
--- a/scripts/Kbuild.include
+++ b/scripts/Kbuild.include
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ space   := $(empty) $(empty)
 space_escape := _-_SPACE_-_
 right_paren := )
 left_paren := (
+pound := \#
 
 ###
 # Name of target with a '.' as filename prefix. foo/bar.o => foo/.bar.o
@@ -322,11 +323,11 @@ endif
 
 # Replace >$< with >$$< to preserve $ when reloading the .cmd file
 # (needed for make)
-# Replace >#< with >\#< to avoid starting a comment in the .cmd file
+# Replace >#< with >$(pound)< to avoid starting a comment in the .cmd file
 # (needed for make)
 # Replace >'< with >'\''< to be able to enclose the whole string in '...'
 # (needed for the shell)
-make-cmd = $(call escsq,$(subst \#,\\\#,$(subst $$,$$$$,$(cmd_$(1)))))
+make-cmd = $(call escsq,$(subst $(pound),$$(pound),$(subst $$,$$$$,$(cmd_$(1)))))
 
 # Find any prerequisites that is newer than target or that does not exist.
 # PHONY targets skipped in both cases.
diff --git a/tools/build/Build.include b/tools/build/Build.include
index 418871d02ebf..a4bbb984941d 100644
--- a/tools/build/Build.include
+++ b/tools/build/Build.include
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 # Convenient variables
 comma   := ,
 squote  := '
+pound   := \#
 
 ###
 # Name of target with a '.' as filename prefix. foo/bar.o => foo/.bar.o
@@ -43,11 +44,11 @@ echo-cmd = $(if $($(quiet)cmd_$(1)),\
 ###
 # Replace >$< with >$$< to preserve $ when reloading the .cmd file
 # (needed for make)
-# Replace >#< with >\#< to avoid starting a comment in the .cmd file
+# Replace >#< with >$(pound)< to avoid starting a comment in the .cmd file
 # (needed for make)
 # Replace >'< with >'\''< to be able to enclose the whole string in '...'
 # (needed for the shell)
-make-cmd = $(call escsq,$(subst \#,\\\#,$(subst $$,$$$$,$(cmd_$(1)))))
+make-cmd = $(call escsq,$(subst $(pound),$$(pound),$(subst $$,$$$$,$(cmd_$(1)))))
 
 ###
 # Find any prerequisites that is newer than target or that does not exist.
diff --git a/tools/objtool/Makefile b/tools/objtool/Makefile
index e6acc281dd37..8ae824dbfca3 100644
--- a/tools/objtool/Makefile
+++ b/tools/objtool/Makefile
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ CFLAGS   += -Wall -Werror $(WARNINGS) -fomit-frame-pointer -O2 -g $(INCLUDES)
 LDFLAGS  += -lelf $(LIBSUBCMD)
 
 # Allow old libelf to be used:
-elfshdr := $(shell echo '\#include <libelf.h>' | $(CC) $(CFLAGS) -x c -E - | grep elf_getshdr)
+elfshdr := $(shell echo '$(pound)include <libelf.h>' | $(CC) $(CFLAGS) -x c -E - | grep elf_getshdr)
 CFLAGS += $(if $(elfshdr),,-DLIBELF_USE_DEPRECATED)
 
 AWK = awk
diff --git a/tools/scripts/Makefile.include b/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
index dd614463d4d6..495066bafbe3 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
+++ b/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
@@ -120,3 +120,5 @@ ifneq ($(silent),1)
 	QUIET_UNINST   = @printf '  UNINST   %s\n' $1;
   endif
 endif
+
+pound := \#