diff --git a/Makefile.rules b/Makefile.rules
index 6fd3249fcb1..76cec18ff8a 100644
--- a/Makefile.rules
+++ b/Makefile.rules
@@ -1070,7 +1070,7 @@ ifeq ($(HAVE_LINK_VERSION_SCRIPT),1)
 NativeExportsFile := $(ObjDir)/$(notdir $(EXPORTED_SYMBOL_FILE)).map
 $(NativeExportsFile): $(EXPORTED_SYMBOL_FILE) $(ObjDir)/.dir
 	$(Verb) echo "{" > $@
-	$(Verb) grep -q "\<" $< && echo "  global:" >> $@ || :
+	$(Verb) grep -q '[[:alnum:]_]' $< && echo "  global:" >> $@ || :
 	$(Verb) sed -e 's/$$/;/' -e 's/^/    /' < $< >> $@
 ifneq ($(HOST_OS),OpenBSD)
 	$(Verb) echo "  local: *;" >> $@