Index: head/graphics/gtk-update-icon-cache/Makefile
===================================================================
--- head/graphics/gtk-update-icon-cache/Makefile
+++ head/graphics/gtk-update-icon-cache/Makefile
@@ -36,17 +36,16 @@
 PLIST_FILES=	bin/gtk-update-icon-cache
 #		man/man1/gtk-update-icon-cache.1.gz
 
-.include <bsd.port.pre.mk>
-
 post-patch:
 	@${REINPLACE_CMD} -e 's|-DGDK_PIXBUF_DISABLE_DEPRECATED||g' \
 		${WRKSRC}/configure
 
 pre-configure:
-.if !exists(${LOCALBASE}/libdata/pkgconfig/cairo-xlib.pc)
-	@${ECHO_CMD} "${PKGNAME}: Needs cairo with X11 support enabled."
-	@${FALSE}
-.endif
+# .if !exists() evaluates too early before cairo has a chance to be installed
+	@if ! pkg-config --exists cairo-xlib; then \
+		${ECHO_MSG} "${PKGNAME}: Needs cairo with X11 support enabled."; \
+		${FALSE}; \
+	fi
 
 do-install:
 	@${INSTALL_PROGRAM} ${WRKSRC}/gtk/gtk-update-icon-cache \
@@ -54,4 +53,4 @@
 #	@${INSTALL_MAN} ${WRKSRC}/docs/reference/gtk/gtk-update-icon-cache.1 \
 #		${STAGEDIR}${PREFIX}/man/man1/
 
-.include <bsd.port.post.mk>
+.include <bsd.port.mk>
Index: head/x11-toolkits/gtk20/Makefile
===================================================================
--- head/x11-toolkits/gtk20/Makefile
+++ head/x11-toolkits/gtk20/Makefile
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@
 CUPS_CONFIGURE_OFF=	--disable-cups
 DEBUG_CONFIGURE_ON=	--enable-debug=yes
 
-.include <bsd.port.options.mk>
-
 PLIST_SUB+=	LIBGAILVER=18.0.1 LIBGVER=0.2400.28
 
 post-patch:
@@ -58,10 +56,11 @@
 		${WRKSRC}/gtk/Makefile.in
 
 pre-configure:
-.if !exists(${LOCALBASE}/libdata/pkgconfig/cairo-xlib.pc)
-	@${ECHO_CMD} "${PKGNAME}: Needs cairo with X11 support enabled."
-	@${FALSE}
-.endif
+# .if !exists() evaluates too early before cairo has a chance to be installed
+	@if ! pkg-config --exists cairo-xlib; then \
+		${ECHO_MSG} "${PKGNAME}: Needs cairo with X11 support enabled."; \
+		${FALSE}; \
+	fi
 
 post-install:
 	@${MKDIR} ${STAGEDIR}${PREFIX}/lib/gtk-2.0/modules
Index: head/x11-toolkits/gtk30/Makefile
===================================================================
--- head/x11-toolkits/gtk30/Makefile
+++ head/x11-toolkits/gtk30/Makefile
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@
 # GTK+ 3.17 has a beter way
 TYPEAHEAD_DESC=		Re-enable type-a-head functionality in file chooser
 
-# needed for the exists() check, booo
 .include <bsd.port.options.mk>
 
 .if ${PORT_OPTIONS:MTYPEAHEAD}
@@ -94,10 +93,11 @@
 		${WRKSRC}/gtk/Makefile.in
 
 pre-configure:
-.if !exists(${LOCALBASE}/libdata/pkgconfig/cairo-xlib.pc)
-	@${ECHO_CMD} "${PKGNAME}: Needs cairo with X11 support enabled."
-	@${FALSE}
-.endif
+# .if !exists() evaluates too early before cairo has a chance to be installed
+	@if ! pkg-config --exists cairo-xlib; then \
+		${ECHO_MSG} "${PKGNAME}: Needs cairo with X11 support enabled."; \
+		${FALSE}; \
+	fi
 
 pre-build:
 	@${RM} -rf ${WRKSRC}/docs/gtk.info*