The problem crept in with version 1.982.
Index: bsd.port.mk =================================================================== RCS file: /pub/cvsroot/OpenBSD/ports/infrastructure/mk/bsd.port.mk,v retrieving revision 1.985 diff -u -p -u -p -r1.985 bsd.port.mk --- bsd.port.mk 21 Mar 2010 17:12:10 -0000 1.985 +++ bsd.port.mk 22 Mar 2010 18:35:29 -0000 @@ -1302,7 +1302,7 @@ _force_update_fragment = { \ exit 1; \ fi; \ } -_PKG_ADD_FORCE = -D update -D updatedepends -D +_PKG_ADD_FORCE = -D update -D updatedepends . if ${FORCE_UPDATE:L} == "hard" _PKG_ADD_FORCE += -D installed . endif