diff --git a/src/Makefile.in b/src/Makefile.in
index 7e71f9ef3..1b08fa830 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.in
+++ b/src/Makefile.in
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ libdir=@libdir@
 INSTALL	= @INSTALL@
 INSTALL_PROGRAM = @INSTALL_PROGRAM@
 INSTALL_DATA = @INSTALL_DATA@
-mkinstalldirs = $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/gc/mkinstalldirs
+mkinstalldirs = $(SHELL) -c $(top_srcdir)/gc/mkinstalldirs
 
 # Files
 
diff --git a/src/doc/Makefile.in b/src/doc/Makefile.in
index 06bea0861..ad0e414c5 100644
--- a/src/doc/Makefile.in
+++ b/src/doc/Makefile.in
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ manext=1
 INSTALL	= @INSTALL@
 INSTALL_PROGRAM = @INSTALL_PROGRAM@
 INSTALL_DATA = @INSTALL_DATA@
-mkinstalldirs = $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/gc/mkinstalldirs
+mkinstalldirs = $(SHELL) -c $(top_srcdir)/gc/mkinstalldirs
 
 VERSION=@ECL_VERSION@