diff --git a/tools/build/Makefile.build b/tools/build/Makefile.build
index fac42486a8cf..5fb3fb3d97e0 100644
--- a/tools/build/Makefile.build
+++ b/tools/build/Makefile.build
@@ -20,7 +20,15 @@ else
   Q=@
 endif
 
-ifneq ($(findstring s,$(filter-out --%,$(MAKEFLAGS))),)
+# If the user is running make -s (silent mode), suppress echoing of commands
+# make-4.0 (and later) keep single letter options in the 1st word of MAKEFLAGS.
+ifeq ($(filter 3.%,$(MAKE_VERSION)),)
+short-opts := $(firstword -$(MAKEFLAGS))
+else
+short-opts := $(filter-out --%,$(MAKEFLAGS))
+endif
+
+ifneq ($(findstring s,$(short-opts)),)
   quiet=silent_
 endif