diff --git a/install/GNUmakefile b/install/GNUmakefile
index 6c27e27c629715e0fffada7cc5f912195ebaa712..95b85ff448e34ae5a1676448e59146ef615de081 100644
--- a/install/GNUmakefile
+++ b/install/GNUmakefile
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 # NO_GTK = Don't build GTK-based sysop tools
 # X_PATH = /path/to/X (if not /usr/X11R6)
 
+# the magic bit:
+MKFLAGS += MAKEFLAGS=
 ifndef DEBUG
  ifndef RELEASE
   RELEASE	:=	1