diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 68ee6e100e..132f99b246 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ CLEANFILES = src/include/switch_version.h
 
 
 makecheck:
-	$(MAKE) --version || echo you need gnu make
+	make --version || echo you need to execute gnu make from the top level
 
 version: Makefile
 	./checkversion.sh
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 16c5376ef7..75c1068558 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -984,7 +984,7 @@ uninstall-info: uninstall-info-recursive
 
 
 makecheck:
-	$(MAKE) --version || echo you need gnu make
+	make --version || echo you need to execute gnu make from the top level
 
 version: Makefile
 	./checkversion.sh