diff --git a/scripts/Kbuild.include b/scripts/Kbuild.include
index 1db6d73c8dd2..31a981d6229d 100644
--- a/scripts/Kbuild.include
+++ b/scripts/Kbuild.include
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ quote   := "
 squote  := '
 empty   :=
 space   := $(empty) $(empty)
+pound   := \#
 
 ###
 # Name of target with a '.' as filename prefix. foo/bar.o => foo/.bar.o
@@ -236,11 +237,11 @@ 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 1c570528baf7..0340d8a51dab 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/scripts/Makefile.include b/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
index 19edc1a7a232..7ea4438b801d 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
+++ b/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
@@ -92,3 +92,5 @@ ifneq ($(silent),1)
 	QUIET_INSTALL  = @printf '  INSTALL  %s\n' $1;
   endif
 endif
+
+pound := \#