diff --git a/cpu/msp430/Makefile.msp430 b/cpu/msp430/Makefile.msp430
index c38800417..c173730f8 100644
--- a/cpu/msp430/Makefile.msp430
+++ b/cpu/msp430/Makefile.msp430
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ CFLAGS  += -Os -fno-strict-aliasing
 LDFLAGS += -mmcu=$(MCU) -Wl,-Map=contiki-$(TARGET).map
 
 ### These flags can reduce the code size and RAM usage with up to 10%
-ifdef SMALL
+ifeq ($(SMALL),1)
 CFLAGS += -ffunction-sections
 # CFLAGS += -fdata-sections
 LDFLAGS += -Wl,--gc-sections,--undefined=_reset_vector__,--undefined=InterruptVectors,--undefined=_copy_data_init__,--undefined=_clear_bss_init__,--undefined=_end_of_init__