diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c0c2d58e3998..685f1bd93281 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -311,9 +311,15 @@ endif
 # If the user is running make -s (silent mode), suppress echoing of
 # commands
 
+ifneq ($(filter 4.%,$(MAKE_VERSION)),)	# make-4
+ifneq ($(filter %s ,$(firstword x$(MAKEFLAGS))),)
+  quiet=silent_
+endif
+else					# make-3.8x
 ifneq ($(filter s% -s%,$(MAKEFLAGS)),)
   quiet=silent_
 endif
+endif
 
 export quiet Q KBUILD_VERBOSE