diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 04e21bb..238bd84 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Makefile: ;
 configure: ;

 .PHONY: all clean cscope distclean dvi html info install install-doc \
-	recurse-all speed tar tarbin test build-all
+	recurse-all speed tar tarbin test build-all build-top-level

 VPATH=$(SRC_PATH):$(SRC_PATH)/hw

@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ config-all-devices.mak: $(SUBDIR_DEVICES_MAK)
 -include config-all-devices.mak

 build-all: config-host.h config-all-devices.h
-	$(call quiet-command, $(MAKE) $(SUBDIR_MAKEFLAGS) $(TOOLS) $(DOCS) recurse-all,)
+	$(call quiet-command,$(MAKE) $(SUBDIR_MAKEFLAGS) V="$(V)" build-top-level recurse-all,)
+
+build-top-level: $(TOOLS) $(DOCS)

 config-host.h: config-host.h-timestamp
 config-host.h-timestamp: config-host.mak