--- a/mcs/Makefile
+++ b/mcs/Makefile
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 	@:
 
 dir-check:
-	@if [ "$(NO_DIR_CHECK)" = "" -a "$(PROFILE)" != "basic" ]; then make -C ../runtime; fi
+	@if [ "$(NO_DIR_CHECK)" = "" -a "$(PROFILE)" != "basic" ]; then $(MAKE) -C ../runtime; fi
 
 # fun specialty targets