diff --git a/src/fst/morphology/Makefile.am b/src/fst/morphology/Makefile.am
index abe2b795..577b560a 100644
--- a/src/fst/morphology/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/fst/morphology/Makefile.am
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ if HAVE_SHARED_COMMON
 	$(AM_V_CP)cp -f $< $@
 
 generated_files/mul-$(GLANG)-%.lexc: $(gt_SHARED_common)/src/fst/stems/%.lexc
-	$(MAKE) $(GENDIR)
+	$(AM_V_at)$(MKDIR_P) generated_files
 	$(AM_V_CP)cp -f $< $@
 else
 # this is "safe" fallback (compiles but you miss everything)