diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e032b22..2c76217 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ objects=.bash_profile .beetsconfig .conky_box.lua .conkyrc .gitconfig \
 	.slrnrc .stumpwmrc .tmux.conf .urlview .xbindkeysrc.scm .Xdefaults \
 	.xinitrc .Xmodmap .xsession .zprofile .zshrc
 
+export MAKEROOT=y
+
 include dotfiles.mk
 
 install-.xinitrc: MODE=744
diff --git a/dotfiles.mk b/dotfiles.mk
index 77afcee..6018dd2 100644
--- a/dotfiles.mk
+++ b/dotfiles.mk
@@ -28,9 +28,19 @@ check-modules=$(addprefix check-,$(modules))
 	$(install-objects) $(uninstall-objects) $(check-objects) \
 	$(install-modules) $(uninstall-modules) $(check-modules)
 all: $(modules) $(objects)
-install: $(install-modules) $(install-objects)
+
+ifeq ($(MAKEROOT),y)
 check: $(check-modules) $(check-objects)
+install: $(install-modules) $(install-objects)
 uninstall: $(uninstall-modules) $(uninstall-objects)
+else
+check:
+	$(MAKE) -s -C ../ check
+install:
+	$(MAKE) -C ../ install
+uninstall:
+	$(MAKE) -C ../ uninstall
+endif
 
 $(modules): %:
 	@echo $(MAKEFILES)
@@ -56,7 +66,7 @@ $(check-objects): check-%:
 			echo -e "$(FG_YEL)$* $(FG_RED)older$(CLR_RE)."))
 
 $(check-modules): check-%:
-	@$(MAKE) -C $* check
+	@$(MAKE) -s -C $* check
 
 $(filter %.elc,$(objects)): %.elc: %.el
 	$(call compile,$^)