diff --git a/v2/engine/command.h b/v2/engine/command.h
index 03011abba..64e8519fb 100644
--- a/v2/engine/command.h
+++ b/v2/engine/command.h
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ typedef struct _cmd CMD;
 struct _cmd
 {
     CMD  * next;
-    CMD  * tail;      /* valid on in head */
     RULE * rule;      /* rule->actions contains shell script */
     LIST * shell;     /* $(JAMSHELL) value */
     LOL    args;      /* LISTs for $(<), $(>) */
diff --git a/v2/engine/make1.c b/v2/engine/make1.c
index e810ffd5e..ca93d213f 100644
--- a/v2/engine/make1.c
+++ b/v2/engine/make1.c
@@ -971,6 +971,7 @@ static void swap_settings
 static CMD * make1cmds( TARGET * t )
 {
     CMD * cmds = 0;
+    CMD * * cmds_next = &cmds;
     LIST * shell = L0;
     module_t * settings_module = 0;
     TARGET * settings_target = 0;
@@ -1112,9 +1113,8 @@ static CMD * make1cmds( TARGET * t )
                 if ( accept_command )
                 {
                     /* Chain it up. */
-                    if ( !cmds ) cmds = cmd;
-                    else cmds->tail->next = cmd;
-                    cmds->tail = cmd;
+                    *cmds_next = cmd;
+                    cmds_next = &cmd->next;
 
                     /* Mark lists we need recreated for the next command since
                      * they got consumed by the cmd object.