diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2113fb024..c69548833 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -202,7 +202,8 @@ $(eval $(call gen-built-in,images))
 .PHONY: .FORCE
 
 # Compel get used by CRIU, build it earlier
-$(eval $(call gen-built-in,compel))
+compel/%:
+	$(Q) $(MAKE) $(build)=compel $@
 
 #
 # Next the socket CR library