diff --git a/compat/Makefile b/compat/Makefile
index 9a29ffcf..fa25832e 100644
--- a/compat/Makefile
+++ b/compat/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 all:
 	$(MAKE) -C .. all
 
-clean:
-	$(MAKE) -C .. clean
+.DEFAULT:
+	$(MAKE) -C .. $@
diff --git a/lib/Makefile b/lib/Makefile
index 9a29ffcf..b6859eac 100644
--- a/lib/Makefile
+++ b/lib/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
+# See Makfefile.local for the list of files to be compiled in this
+# directory.
 all:
 	$(MAKE) -C .. all
 
-clean:
-	$(MAKE) -C .. clean
+.DEFAULT:
+	$(MAKE) -C .. $@