diff --git a/ares/m4/cares-system.m4 b/ares/m4/cares-system.m4
index 278140160..39b3c859a 100644
--- a/ares/m4/cares-system.m4
+++ b/ares/m4/cares-system.m4
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #***************************************************************************
 
 # File version for 'aclocal' use. Keep it a single number.
-# serial 1
+# serial 2
 
 
 dnl CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR
@@ -57,10 +57,8 @@ AC_DEFUN([CARES_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR], [
       dnl Separator with the greater directory count is the auto-detected one.
       if test $tst_dirs_sem -gt $tst_dirs_col; then
         tst_auto_separator=';'
-        PATH_SEPARATOR=';'
       else
         tst_auto_separator=':'
-        PATH_SEPARATOR=':'
       fi
       if test -z "$PATH_SEPARATOR"; then
         dnl Simply use the auto-detected one when not already set.
diff --git a/m4/curl-system.m4 b/m4/curl-system.m4
index 57d4cccb6..3f8bb19f9 100644
--- a/m4/curl-system.m4
+++ b/m4/curl-system.m4
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 #***************************************************************************
 
 # File version for 'aclocal' use. Keep it a single number.
-# serial 1
+# serial 2
 
 
 dnl CURL_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR
@@ -63,10 +63,8 @@ AC_DEFUN([CURL_CHECK_PATH_SEPARATOR], [
       dnl Separator with the greater directory count is the auto-detected one.
       if test $tst_dirs_sem -gt $tst_dirs_col; then
         tst_auto_separator=';'
-        PATH_SEPARATOR=';'
       else
         tst_auto_separator=':'
-        PATH_SEPARATOR=':'
       fi
       if test -z "$PATH_SEPARATOR"; then
         dnl Simply use the auto-detected one when not already set.