diff --git a/conf/layer.conf b/conf/layer.conf
index 2af1a6ed..fbe529f2 100644
--- a/conf/layer.conf
+++ b/conf/layer.conf
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 # We have a conf and classes directory, prepend to BBPATH
-BBPATH := "${LAYERDIR}:${BBPATH}"
+BBPATH .= ":${LAYERDIR}"
 
 # We have a recipes directory, add to BBFILES
-BBFILES := "${BBFILES} ${LAYERDIR}/recipes*/*/*.bb \
-	${LAYERDIR}/recipes*/*/*.bbappend"
+BBFILES += "${LAYERDIR}/recipes*/*/*.bb ${LAYERDIR}/recipes*/*/*.bbappend"
 
 BBFILE_COLLECTIONS += "meta-ti"
 BBFILE_PATTERN_meta-ti := "^${LAYERDIR}/"