Incompatibility in make versions - directory/ dependency no longer match directory goal

[Gur Stavi]

Consider the makfile below.

OUT_DIR = my_dir

OUT_FILE = $(OUT_DIR)/hello.txt

$(OUT_FILE): | $(dir $(OUT_FILE))

echo Hello World > $@

my_dir:

mkdir $@

Running with make v3.81 results in:

mkdir my_dir

echo Hello World > my_dir/hello.txt

Running with Make v4.1 results in:

make: *** No rule to make target 'my_dir/', needed by 'my_dir/hello.txt'.  Stop.

Is this intentional?