diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 38384f898d61656209da16410979a975641ef693..5185c917077b777c92d454322e0249f5ab7f2b71 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ modules_install: _modinst_ _modinst_post
 
 .PHONY: _modinst_
 _modinst_:
-	@if [ -z "`$(DEPMOD) -V | grep module-init-tools`" ]; then \
+	@if [ -z "`$(DEPMOD) -V 2>/dev/null | grep module-init-tools`" ]; then \
 		echo "Warning: you may need to install module-init-tools"; \
 		echo "See http://www.codemonkey.org.uk/docs/post-halloween-2.6.txt";\
 		sleep 1; \