diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7688832a51d2..eac1d9a21d1d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -89,9 +89,16 @@ 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 --%,$(MAKEFLAGS))),)
-  quiet=silent_
+ifeq ($(filter 3.%,$(MAKE_VERSION)),)
+silence:=$(findstring s,$(firstword -$(MAKEFLAGS)))
+else
+silence:=$(findstring s,$(filter-out --%,$(MAKEFLAGS)))
+endif
+
+ifeq ($(silence),s)
+quiet=silent_
 endif
 
 export quiet Q KBUILD_VERBOSE