diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
index b228e2b480..51a4b3b7ee 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.cxx
@@ -4188,6 +4188,18 @@ void cmMakefile::RaiseScope(const std::string& var, const char* varDef)
 #endif
 }
 
+void cmMakefile::RaiseScope(const std::vector<std::string>& variables)
+{
+  for (auto const& varName : variables) {
+    if (this->IsNormalDefinitionSet(varName)) {
+      this->RaiseScope(varName, this->GetDefinition(varName));
+    } else {
+      // unset variable in parent scope
+      this->RaiseScope(varName, nullptr);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 cmTarget* cmMakefile::AddImportedTarget(const std::string& name,
                                         cmStateEnums::TargetType type,
                                         bool global)
diff --git a/Source/cmMakefile.h b/Source/cmMakefile.h
index 10432a8d74..1763177778 100644
--- a/Source/cmMakefile.h
+++ b/Source/cmMakefile.h
@@ -880,6 +880,7 @@ public:
   {
     this->RaiseScope(var, value.GetCStr());
   }
+  void RaiseScope(const std::vector<std::string>& variables);
 
   // push and pop loop scopes
   void PushLoopBlockBarrier();