diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index cfae9b823d2b..649901a00155 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -87,10 +87,12 @@ endif
 ifneq ($(filter 4.%,$(MAKE_VERSION)),)	# make-4
 ifneq ($(filter %s ,$(firstword x$(MAKEFLAGS))),)
   quiet=silent_
+  tools_silent=s
 endif
 else					# make-3.8x
 ifneq ($(filter s% -s%,$(MAKEFLAGS)),)
   quiet=silent_
+  tools_silent=-s
 endif
 endif
 
@@ -1614,11 +1616,11 @@ image_name:
 # Clear a bunch of variables before executing the submake
 tools/: FORCE
 	$(Q)mkdir -p $(objtree)/tools
-	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS="$(filter --j% -j,$(MAKEFLAGS))" O=$(shell cd $(objtree) && /bin/pwd) subdir=tools -C $(src)/tools/
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS="$(tools_silent) $(filter --j% -j,$(MAKEFLAGS))" O=$(shell cd $(objtree) && /bin/pwd) subdir=tools -C $(src)/tools/
 
 tools/%: FORCE
 	$(Q)mkdir -p $(objtree)/tools
-	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS="$(filter --j% -j,$(MAKEFLAGS))" O=$(shell cd $(objtree) && /bin/pwd) subdir=tools -C $(src)/tools/ $*
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS="$(tools_silent) $(filter --j% -j,$(MAKEFLAGS))" O=$(shell cd $(objtree) && /bin/pwd) subdir=tools -C $(src)/tools/ $*
 
 # Single targets
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/tools/build/Makefile.build b/tools/build/Makefile.build
index 99c0ccd2f176..e279a71c650d 100644
--- a/tools/build/Makefile.build
+++ b/tools/build/Makefile.build
@@ -19,6 +19,16 @@ else
   Q=@
 endif
 
+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
+
 build-dir := $(srctree)/tools/build
 
 # Define $(fixdep) for dep-cmd function
diff --git a/tools/scripts/Makefile.include b/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
index 8abbef164b4e..19edc1a7a232 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
+++ b/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
@@ -46,6 +46,16 @@ else
 NO_SUBDIR = :
 endif
 
+ifneq ($(filter 4.%,$(MAKE_VERSION)),)  # make-4
+ifneq ($(filter %s ,$(firstword x$(MAKEFLAGS))),)
+  silent=1
+endif
+else					# make-3.8x
+ifneq ($(filter s% -s%,$(MAKEFLAGS)),)
+  silent=1
+endif
+endif
+
 #
 # Define a callable command for descending to a new directory
 #
@@ -58,7 +68,7 @@ descend = \
 QUIET_SUBDIR0  = +$(MAKE) $(COMMAND_O) -C # space to separate -C and subdir
 QUIET_SUBDIR1  =
 
-ifneq ($(findstring $(MAKEFLAGS),s),s)
+ifneq ($(silent),1)
   ifneq ($(V),1)
 	QUIET_CC       = @echo '  CC       '$@;
 	QUIET_CC_FPIC  = @echo '  CC FPIC  '$@;