diff --git a/sims/vcs/Makefile b/sims/vcs/Makefile
index 80e5a1a8..a3ff6504 100644
--- a/sims/vcs/Makefile
+++ b/sims/vcs/Makefile
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@ sim_prefix = simv
 sim = $(sim_dir)/$(sim_prefix)-$(MODEL_PACKAGE)-$(CONFIG)
 sim_debug = $(sim_dir)/$(sim_prefix)-$(MODEL_PACKAGE)-$(CONFIG)-debug
 
-PERMISSIVE_ON=+permissive
-PERMISSIVE_OFF=+permissive-off
-
 WAVEFORM_FLAG=+vcdplusfile=$(sim_out_name).vpd
 
 .PHONY: default debug
diff --git a/sims/verilator/Makefile b/sims/verilator/Makefile
index d9ee5dc5..1b9276ac 100644
--- a/sims/verilator/Makefile
+++ b/sims/verilator/Makefile
@@ -28,9 +28,6 @@ sim_prefix = simulator
 sim = $(sim_dir)/$(sim_prefix)-$(MODEL_PACKAGE)-$(CONFIG)
 sim_debug = $(sim_dir)/$(sim_prefix)-$(MODEL_PACKAGE)-$(CONFIG)-debug
 
-PERMISSIVE_ON=+permissive
-PERMISSIVE_OFF=+permissive-off
-
 WAVEFORM_FLAG=-v$(sim_out_name).vcd
 
 .PHONY: default debug
diff --git a/variables.mk b/variables.mk
index ad981245..4d49d5fe 100644
--- a/variables.mk
+++ b/variables.mk
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ output_dir=$(sim_dir)/output/$(long_name)
 #########################################################################################
 # helper variables to run binaries
 #########################################################################################
+PERMISSIVE_ON=+permissive
+PERMISSIVE_OFF=+permissive-off
 BINARY ?=
 override SIM_FLAGS += +dramsim +max-cycles=$(timeout_cycles)
 VERBOSE_FLAGS ?= +verbose