diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index d331c8d3be..43483edc54 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ include $(top_srcdir)/common/po.mak
 include $(top_srcdir)/common/coverage/lcov.mak
 
 check-valgrind:
-	cd tests/check && make check-valgrind
+	$(MAKE) -C tests/check check-valgrind
 
 if HAVE_CHECK
 check-torture:
-	cd tests/check && make torture
+	$(MAKE) -C tests/check torture
 build-checks:
-	cd tests/check && make build-checks
+	$(MAKE) -C tests/check  build-checks
 else
 check-torture:
 	true