diff --git a/perl/perl.spec b/perl/perl.spec
index 43273e88a8..8f263c69b8 100644
--- a/perl/perl.spec
+++ b/perl/perl.spec
@@ -110,10 +110,7 @@ AutoReqProv:  no
             elif [ -f /etc/SuSE-release ]; then
                 v=`/bin/rpm -q --qf '%{VERSION}' binutils`
             else
-                v=`(rpm -q --qf '%{VERSION}' binutils) 2>/dev/null`
-                if [ ".$v" = . ]; then
-                    v=`(ld --version | grep "^GNU ld " | sed -e 's;^GNU ld ;;') 2>/dev/null`
-                fi
+                v=`(ld --version | grep "^GNU ld " | sed -e 's;^GNU ld ;;') 2>/dev/null`
             fi
             case "$v" in
                 2.1[1-9].* ) ;;