Make error: missing separator

Question

I am getting the following error running make:

Makefile:168: *** missing separator.  Stop.

What is causing this?

Answer 1

In my case, this error was caused by the lack of a mere space. I had this if block in my makefile:

if($(METHOD),opt)
CFLAGS=
endif

which should have been:

if ($(METHOD),opt)
CFLAGS=
endif

with a space after if.