diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ad3222a63..c52f28ba6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ CAMLC=$(CAMLC_BIN) -nostdlib -I boot
 CAMLOPT=$(CAMLOPT_BIN) -nostdlib -I stdlib -I otherlibs/dynlink
 COMPFLAGS=-strict-sequence -w +33..39 -warn-error A $(INCLUDES)
 LINKFLAGS=
-SWITCH_COMPILER=make -C $(ROOTDIR)/config -f Makefile.switch-compiler
+SWITCH_COMPILER=cd $(ROOTDIR)/config && $(MAKE) -f Makefile.switch-compiler
 
 CAMLYACC=boot/ocamlyacc
 YACCFLAGS=-v
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index ea9f9387d..3d081017a 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1741,7 +1741,7 @@ rm -f ../m.h ../s.h ../Makefile
 mv m.h s.h Makefile ..
 
 rm -f ../ocamlcomp
-make -C .. -f Makefile.switch-compiler disable COMPILER="CAMLC" VARIANT="BYTE"
+cd .. && make -f Makefile.switch-compiler disable COMPILER="CAMLC" VARIANT="BYTE"
 
 # Print a summary