diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 6f846b1f2618..fbd9ff4a61e7 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -93,10 +93,17 @@ endif
 
 # 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.
 
-ifneq ($(findstring s,$(filter-out --%,$(MAKEFLAGS))),)
-  quiet=silent_
-  KBUILD_VERBOSE = 0
+ifeq ($(filter 3.%,$(MAKE_VERSION)),)
+silence:=$(findstring s,$(firstword -$(MAKEFLAGS)))
+else
+silence:=$(findstring s,$(filter-out --%,$(MAKEFLAGS)))
+endif
+
+ifeq ($(silence),s)
+quiet=silent_
+KBUILD_VERBOSE = 0
 endif
 
 export quiet Q KBUILD_VERBOSE