On (info "(make) MAKE Variable") please warn: Remember that anything else you put *on the same line* with $(MAKE) on it will also get executed despite -n:
w: beep; beep; beep; $(MAKE) qq will beep in the middle of the night, despite $ make -n w If you don't want $ make x to suddenly invoke the $BROWSER, then instead of x: $(MAKE) lost_groups; $$BROWSER zzz.html please use x: $(MAKE) lost_groups $$BROWSER zzz.html Sure, it is already discussed on the page, but not resoundingly enough.