diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index aab346e942..9c2e6af1a9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
 # Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
 #
 
+# This top-level Makefile can *not* be executed in parallel
+.NOTPARALLEL:
+
 #--------------------------------------------------------------
 # Just run 'make menuconfig', configure stuff, then run 'make'.
 # You shouldn't need to mess with anything beyond this point...