diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4c68950e90..c400854cd3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@
 # GNUmakefile won't exist yet, so we catch that case as well.
 
 
+# AIX make defaults to building *every* target of the first rule.  Start with
+# a single-target, empty rule to make the other targets non-default.
+all:
+
 all check install installdirs installcheck installcheck-parallel uninstall clean distclean maintainer-clean dist distcheck world check-world install-world installcheck-world:
 	@if [ ! -f GNUmakefile ] ; then \
 	   echo "You need to run the 'configure' program first. See the file"; \
diff --git a/src/test/regress/Makefile b/src/test/regress/Makefile
index 6409a485e8..7c665ff892 100644
--- a/src/test/regress/Makefile
+++ b/src/test/regress/Makefile
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 # GNU make uses a make file named "GNUmakefile" in preference to "Makefile"
 # if it exists.  Postgres is shipped with a "GNUmakefile".
 
+
+# AIX make defaults to building *every* target of the first rule.  Start with
+# a single-target, empty rule to make the other targets non-default.
+all:
+
 all install clean check installcheck:
 	@echo "You must use GNU make to use Postgres.  It may be installed"
 	@echo "on your system with the name 'gmake'."