diff --git a/actionpack/lib/sprockets/assets.rake b/actionpack/lib/sprockets/assets.rake
index b2c282c158..a68f0e84f8 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/sprockets/assets.rake
+++ b/actionpack/lib/sprockets/assets.rake
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 namespace :assets do
-  desc "Compile all the assets named in config.assets.precompile"
-  task :precompile do
-    if ENV["RAILS_GROUPS"].to_s.empty?
-      ENV["RAILS_GROUPS"] = "assets"
-      Kernel.exec $0, *ARGV
-    else
-      Rake::Task["environment"].invoke
-      Sprockets::Helpers::RailsHelper
+  # Ensures the RAILS_GROUPS environment variable is set
+  task :ensure_env do
+    ENV["RAILS_GROUPS"] ||= "assets"
+  end
 
-      assets = Rails.application.config.assets.precompile
-      Rails.application.assets.precompile(*assets)
-    end
+  desc "Compile all the assets named in config.assets.precompile"
+  task :precompile => :ensure_env do
+    Rake::Task["environment"].invoke
+    Sprockets::Helpers::RailsHelper
+
+    assets = Rails.application.config.assets.precompile
+    Rails.application.assets.precompile(*assets)
   end
 
   desc "Remove compiled assets"