diff --git a/doc/examples/Makefile.am b/doc/examples/Makefile.am
index c7a24354..67302b2f 100644
--- a/doc/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/doc/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ if USE_COVERAGE
   AM_CFLAGS += --coverage
 endif
 
+$(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/libmicrohttpd.la: $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/Makefile
+	@echo ' cd $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la
+
 # example programs
 noinst_PROGRAMS = \
   hellobrowser \
diff --git a/src/examples/Makefile.am b/src/examples/Makefile.am
index 7946745a..e22fe7ed 100644
--- a/src/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@ if USE_COVERAGE
   AM_CFLAGS += --coverage
 endif
 
+$(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/libmicrohttpd.la: $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/Makefile
+	@echo ' cd $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la
+
 
 # example programs
 noinst_PROGRAMS = \
diff --git a/src/microhttpd_ws/Makefile.am b/src/microhttpd_ws/Makefile.am
index 16612506..3ce8a9fe 100644
--- a/src/microhttpd_ws/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/microhttpd_ws/Makefile.am
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS = \
 
 AM_CFLAGS = $(HIDDEN_VISIBILITY_CFLAGS)
 
+$(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/libmicrohttpd.la: $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/Makefile
+	@echo ' cd $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la
+
 noinst_DATA =
 MOSTLYCLEANFILES =
 
diff --git a/src/testcurl/Makefile.am b/src/testcurl/Makefile.am
index e0f8d275..cc685d3b 100644
--- a/src/testcurl/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/testcurl/Makefile.am
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ LDADD = \
   $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/libmicrohttpd.la \
   @LIBCURL@
 
+$(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/libmicrohttpd.la: $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/Makefile
+	@echo ' cd $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la
+
 THREAD_ONLY_TESTS = \
   test_urlparse \
   test_long_header \
diff --git a/src/testcurl/https/Makefile.am b/src/testcurl/https/Makefile.am
index 324a5314..f07ecebc 100644
--- a/src/testcurl/https/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/testcurl/https/Makefile.am
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ if USE_COVERAGE
   AM_CFLAGS += --coverage
 endif
 
+$(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/libmicrohttpd.la: $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/Makefile
+	@echo ' cd $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la
+
 LDADD = \
   $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/libmicrohttpd.la \
   $(MHD_TLS_LIB_LDFLAGS) $(MHD_TLS_LIBDEPS) @LIBGCRYPT_LIBS@ @LIBCURL@
diff --git a/src/testzzuf/Makefile.am b/src/testzzuf/Makefile.am
index d82d04e4..69c6df87 100644
--- a/src/testzzuf/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/testzzuf/Makefile.am
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ LDADD = \
   $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/libmicrohttpd.la \
   @LIBCURL@
 
+$(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/libmicrohttpd.la: $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd/Makefile
+	@echo ' cd $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_builddir)/src/microhttpd && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) libmicrohttpd.la
+
 EXTRA_DIST = README socat.c
 
 THREAD_ONLY_TESTS = \