diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 51032d3021..707cb67576 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ CLEANFILES = src/include/switch_version.h
 
 
 makecheck:
-	make --version || (echo you need to execute gnu make from the top level && exit)
+	make --version || (echo you need to execute gnu make from the top level && false)
 
 version: Makefile
 	./checkversion.sh
diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 7dd60c828b..a43a709c39 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -984,7 +984,7 @@ uninstall-info: uninstall-info-recursive
 
 
 makecheck:
-	make --version || (echo you need to execute gnu make from the top level && exit)
+	make --version || (echo you need to execute gnu make from the top level && false)
 
 version: Makefile
 	./checkversion.sh