diff --git a/build/unix/stdc++compat/Makefile.in b/build/unix/stdc++compat/Makefile.in
index 095039de1e9..054c1c023e2 100644
--- a/build/unix/stdc++compat/Makefile.in
+++ b/build/unix/stdc++compat/Makefile.in
@@ -5,6 +5,3 @@
 ENABLE_CLANG_PLUGIN :=
 
 include $(topsrcdir)/config/rules.mk
-
-CXXFLAGS += -DMOZ_LIBSTDCXX_VERSION=$(MOZ_LIBSTDCXX_TARGET_VERSION)
-HOST_CXXFLAGS += -DMOZ_LIBSTDCXX_VERSION=$(MOZ_LIBSTDCXX_HOST_VERSION)
diff --git a/build/unix/stdc++compat/moz.build b/build/unix/stdc++compat/moz.build
index 73f4e22e1d9..daccf511c6a 100644
--- a/build/unix/stdc++compat/moz.build
+++ b/build/unix/stdc++compat/moz.build
@@ -19,3 +19,6 @@ FORCE_STATIC_LIB = True
 NO_PGO = True
 
 DISABLE_STL_WRAPPING = True
+
+DEFINES['MOZ_LIBSTDCXX_VERSION'] = CONFIG['MOZ_LIBSTDCXX_TARGET_VERSION']
+HOST_DEFINES['MOZ_LIBSTDCXX_VERSION'] = CONFIG['MOZ_LIBSTDCXX_HOST_VERSION']
diff --git a/config/Makefile.in b/config/Makefile.in
index 62683ac0aa8..1702e223077 100644
--- a/config/Makefile.in
+++ b/config/Makefile.in
@@ -41,8 +41,6 @@ endif
 
 include $(topsrcdir)/config/rules.mk
 
-HOST_CFLAGS += -DUNICODE -D_UNICODE
-
 ifndef JS_STANDALONE
 ifndef MOZ_PROFILE_USE
 # Generate a new buildid every time we "export" in config... that's only
diff --git a/config/moz.build b/config/moz.build
index 5bfb708f2fb..682626b245c 100644
--- a/config/moz.build
+++ b/config/moz.build
@@ -45,3 +45,8 @@ if CONFIG['GNU_CC'] and CONFIG['MOZ_OPTIMIZE']:
 
 # XXX: We should fix these warnings.
 ALLOW_COMPILER_WARNINGS = True
+
+HOST_DEFINES = {
+    'UNICODE': True,
+    '_UNICODE': True,
+}
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index bfaa848abc0..28ccb5b7695 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -1837,7 +1837,7 @@ case "$host" in
         HOST_CFLAGS="$HOST_CFLAGS -mwindows"
     fi
     HOST_CFLAGS="$HOST_CFLAGS -DXP_WIN32 -DXP_WIN -DWIN32 -D_WIN32 -DNO_X11 -D_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS"
-    HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG='\"md/_winnt.cfg\"'
+    HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG='"md/_winnt.cfg"'
     HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS="${HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS=-O2}"
     HOST_BIN_SUFFIX=.exe
     case "$host" in
@@ -1863,13 +1863,13 @@ case "$host" in
 
 *-darwin*)
     HOST_CFLAGS="$HOST_CFLAGS -DXP_UNIX -DXP_MACOSX -DNO_X11"
-    HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG='\"md/_darwin.cfg\"'
+    HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG='"md/_darwin.cfg"'
     HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS="${HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS=-O3}"
     ;;
 
 *-linux*|*-kfreebsd*-gnu|*-gnu*)
     HOST_CFLAGS="$HOST_CFLAGS -DXP_UNIX"
-    HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG='\"md/_linux.cfg\"'
+    HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG='"md/_linux.cfg"'
     HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS="${HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS=-O3}"
     ;;
 
diff --git a/js/src/configure.in b/js/src/configure.in
index 72791fa5ce7..087ac9c3b53 100644
--- a/js/src/configure.in
+++ b/js/src/configure.in
@@ -1436,7 +1436,6 @@ case "$host" in
         HOST_CFLAGS="$HOST_CFLAGS -mwindows"
     fi
     HOST_CFLAGS="$HOST_CFLAGS -DXP_WIN32 -DXP_WIN -DWIN32 -D_WIN32 -DNO_X11 -D_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS"
-    HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG='\"md/_winnt.cfg\"'
     HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS="${HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS=-O2}"
     HOST_BIN_SUFFIX=.exe
     case "$host" in
@@ -1462,13 +1461,11 @@ case "$host" in
 
 *-darwin*)
     HOST_CFLAGS="$HOST_CFLAGS -DXP_UNIX -DXP_MACOSX -DNO_X11"
-    HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG='\"md/_darwin.cfg\"'
     HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS="${HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS=-O3}"
     ;;
 
 *-linux*|*-kfreebsd*-gnu|*-gnu*)
     HOST_CFLAGS="$HOST_CFLAGS -DXP_UNIX"
-    HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG='\"md/_linux.cfg\"'
     HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS="${HOST_OPTIMIZE_FLAGS=-O3}"
     ;;
 
@@ -3718,7 +3715,6 @@ AC_SUBST(HOST_AR)
 AC_SUBST(HOST_AR_FLAGS)
 AC_SUBST(HOST_LD)
 AC_SUBST(HOST_RANLIB)
-AC_SUBST(HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG)
 AC_SUBST(HOST_BIN_SUFFIX)
 AC_SUBST(HOST_OS_ARCH)
 
diff --git a/modules/libmar/tool/Makefile.in b/modules/libmar/tool/Makefile.in
deleted file mode 100644
index 20a7c475aa0..00000000000
--- a/modules/libmar/tool/Makefile.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-# vim:set ts=8 sw=8 sts=8 noet:
-#
-# This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
-# License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
-# file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
-
-# The mar executable is output into dist/host/bin since it is something that
-# would only be used by our build system and should not itself be included in a
-# Mozilla distribution.
-
-HOST_CFLAGS += \
-  -DNO_SIGN_VERIFY \
-  $(DEFINES) \
-  $(NULL)
-
-include $(topsrcdir)/config/rules.mk
-
-ifdef CROSS_COMPILE
-ifdef HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG
-HOST_CFLAGS += -DMDCPUCFG=$(HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG)
-CFLAGS += -DMDCPUCFG=$(HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG)
-endif
-endif
diff --git a/modules/libmar/tool/moz.build b/modules/libmar/tool/moz.build
index 122b8d28a10..5f042170303 100644
--- a/modules/libmar/tool/moz.build
+++ b/modules/libmar/tool/moz.build
@@ -59,3 +59,13 @@ if CONFIG['HOST_OS_ARCH'] == 'WINNT':
 
 # XXX: We should fix these warnings.
 ALLOW_COMPILER_WARNINGS = True
+
+HOST_CFLAGS += [
+    #TODO: bug 1200360 - don't pass make variables here
+    '$(DEFINES)',
+]
+
+HOST_DEFINES['NO_SIGN_VERIFY'] = True
+
+if CONFIG['CROSS_COMPILE'] and CONFIG['HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG']:
+    HOST_DEFINES['MDCPUCFG'] = CONFIG['HOST_NSPR_MDCPUCFG']
diff --git a/mozglue/linker/Makefile.in b/mozglue/linker/Makefile.in
deleted file mode 100644
index a5b22176910..00000000000
--- a/mozglue/linker/Makefile.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-# This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
-# License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this file,
-# You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
-
-include $(topsrcdir)/config/rules.mk
-
-ifeq (arm,$(TARGET_CPU))
-ifdef MOZ_THUMB2
-HOST_CXXFLAGS += -DTARGET_THUMB
-else
-HOST_CXXFLAGS += -DTARGET_ARM
-endif
-endif
-ifeq (x86,$(CPU_ARCH))
-HOST_CXXFLAGS += -DTARGET_X86
-endif
diff --git a/mozglue/linker/moz.build b/mozglue/linker/moz.build
index 25d71d91079..e114dc8b27a 100644
--- a/mozglue/linker/moz.build
+++ b/mozglue/linker/moz.build
@@ -33,3 +33,12 @@ TEST_DIRS += ['tests']
 HOST_OS_LIBS += [
     'z',
 ]
+
+if CONFIG['TARGET_CPU'] == 'arm':
+    if CONFIG['MOZ_THUMB2']:
+        HOST_DEFINES['TARGET_THUMB'] = True
+    else:
+        HOST_DEFINES['TARGET_ARM'] = True
+
+if CONFIG['CPU_ARCH'] == 'x86':
+    HOST_DEFINES['TARGET_X86'] = True
diff --git a/other-licenses/bsdiff/Makefile.in b/other-licenses/bsdiff/Makefile.in
deleted file mode 100644
index 7d748e9181a..00000000000
--- a/other-licenses/bsdiff/Makefile.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-# vim:set ts=8 sw=8 sts=8 noet:
-# This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
-# License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
-# file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
-
-# Portions created by the Initial Developer are Copyright (C) 2005
-# the Initial Developer. All Rights Reserved.
-#
-# Contributor(s):
-#
-# Alternatively, the contents of this file may be used under the terms of
-# either the GNU General Public License Version 2 or later (the "GPL"), or
-# the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1 or later (the "LGPL"),
-# in which case the provisions of the GPL or the LGPL are applicable instead
-# of those above. If you wish to allow use of your version of this file only
-# under the terms of either the GPL or the LGPL, and not to allow others to
-# use your version of this file under the terms of the MPL, indicate your
-# decision by deleting the provisions above and replace them with the notice
-# and other provisions required by the GPL or the LGPL. If you do not delete
-# the provisions above, a recipient may use your version of this file under
-# the terms of any one of the MPL, the GPL or the LGPL.
-#
-# ***** END LICENSE BLOCK *****
-
-# This program is output to dist/host/bin because it is only needed by the
-# build system and is not intended to be included in Mozilla distributions.
-
-include $(topsrcdir)/config/rules.mk
-
-HOST_CXXFLAGS += $(MOZ_BZ2_CFLAGS)
diff --git a/other-licenses/bsdiff/moz.build b/other-licenses/bsdiff/moz.build
index e12a40f8853..3848e6af19f 100644
--- a/other-licenses/bsdiff/moz.build
+++ b/other-licenses/bsdiff/moz.build
@@ -26,3 +26,4 @@ LOCAL_INCLUDES += [
     '/toolkit/mozapps/update/updater',
 ]
 
+HOST_CXXFLAGS += CONFIG['MOZ_BZ2_CFLAGS']
diff --git a/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/Makefile.in b/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/Makefile.in
index 3e043e96ab6..5399134c661 100644
--- a/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/Makefile.in
+++ b/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/Makefile.in
@@ -2,23 +2,8 @@
 # License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
 # file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
 
-ifneq (WINNT,$(OS_TARGET))
-ifdef MOZ_CRASHREPORTER
-endif
-endif
-
 ifeq ($(OS_TARGET),Android)
 TARGET_LOCAL_INCLUDES += -I$(topsrcdir)/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/android/include/
 endif
 
-# This kind of sucks.
-ifeq (Linux,$(OS_ARCH))
-HOST_CXXFLAGS += -DHAVE_A_OUT_H
-OS_CXXFLAGS += -DHAVE_A_OUT_H
-endif
-ifeq (Darwin,$(OS_ARCH))
-HOST_CXXFLAGS += -DHAVE_MACH_O_NLIST_H
-OS_CXXFLAGS += -DHAVE_MACH_O_NLIST_H
-endif
-
 include $(topsrcdir)/config/rules.mk
diff --git a/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/dwarf/Makefile.in b/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/dwarf/Makefile.in
deleted file mode 100644
index 6dc9a9b78c8..00000000000
--- a/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/dwarf/Makefile.in
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-# This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
-# License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
-# file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
-
-# This code is only compiled for build-time tools,
-# so enabling RTTI should be fine.
-HOST_CXXFLAGS += -funsigned-char -frtti
diff --git a/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/dwarf/moz.build b/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/dwarf/moz.build
index 58f958beb28..353053514b3 100644
--- a/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/dwarf/moz.build
+++ b/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/dwarf/moz.build
@@ -18,3 +18,11 @@ if CONFIG['MOZ_CRASHREPORTER']:
 
 # need static lib
 FORCE_STATIC_LIB = True
+
+# This code is only compiled for build-time tools,
+# so enabling RTTI should be fine.
+HOST_CXXFLAGS += [
+    '-frtti',
+    '-funsigned-char',
+]
+
diff --git a/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/moz.build b/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/moz.build
index 1c69efdbe87..8e70d53e1a2 100644
--- a/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/moz.build
+++ b/toolkit/crashreporter/google-breakpad/src/common/moz.build
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ if CONFIG['OS_ARCH'] == 'Linux':
         'linux/dump_symbols.cc',
         'linux/elf_symbols_to_module.cc',
     ]
+    HOST_DEFINES['HAVE_A_OUT_H'] = True
+    DEFINES['HAVE_A_OUT_H'] = True
 
 if CONFIG['OS_TARGET'] == 'Android':
     pass
@@ -69,6 +71,8 @@ if CONFIG['OS_ARCH'] == 'Darwin':
     UNIFIED_SOURCES += [
         'mac/dump_syms.mm',
     ]
+    HOST_DEFINES['HAVE_MACH_O_NLIST_H'] = True
+    DEFINES['HAVE_MACH_O_NLIST_H'] = True
 
 if CONFIG['OS_TARGET'] == 'Android':
     # We don't support unifying assembly files.