diff --git a/lib/help.mk b/lib/help.mk
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..499ded5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/help.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# this makefile holds the most helpful bits for the toplevel one
+
+help/distro:
+	@echo '** available distribution targets:'; \
+	echo $(DISTROS) | fmt -sw"$$((COLUMNS>>1))" | column -t
+
+help/ve:
+	@echo '** available virtual environment targets:'; \
+	echo $(VES) | fmt -sw"$$((COLUMNS>>1))" | column -t
+
+help: | help/distro help/space help/ve; @:
+help/space:; @echo
diff --git a/main.mk b/main.mk
index 9ca1eb92..c7683a52 100644
--- a/main.mk
+++ b/main.mk
@@ -45,17 +45,6 @@ IMAGES  := $(DISTROS) $(VES)
 .PHONY: $(IMAGES) $(DISTRO_TARGETS) $(VE_TARGETS)
 .PHONY: debug everything help space
 
-distro/help:
-	@echo '** available distribution targets:'
-	@echo $(DISTROS) | fmt -sw"$$((COLUMNS>>1))" | column -t
-
-ve/help:
-	@echo '** available virtual environment targets:'
-	@echo $(VES) | fmt -sw"$$((COLUMNS>>1))" | column -t
-
-help: | distro/help space ve/help
-space:; @echo
-
 ### duplicate but still needed
 everything:
 	@n=1; sum=$(words $(DISTROS)); \
@@ -75,7 +64,7 @@ $(IMAGES): debug \
 	build; @:
 
 # convenience shortcut
-$(DISTROS:distro/%=%): %: distro/%
+$(DISTROS:distro/%=%): %: distro/%; @:
 
 debug:
 ifeq (2,$(DEBUG))