diff --git a/features.in/install2/install2/stage2cfg.mk b/features.in/install2/install2/stage2cfg.mk
index c2802956..7b63873f 100644
--- a/features.in/install2/install2/stage2cfg.mk
+++ b/features.in/install2/install2/stage2cfg.mk
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ HSH_EXCLUDE_DOCS = 1
 # pass downstream
 GLOBAL_BASE_BOOTLOADER := $(BASE_BOOTLOADER)
 
-debug:
+debug::
 	@echo "** install2: IMAGE_PACKAGES: $(IMAGE_PACKAGES)"
 	@echo "** install2: IMAGE_PACKAGES_REGEXP: $(IMAGE_PACKAGES_REGEXP)"
 	@echo "** install2: CLEANUP_PACKAGES: $(CLEANUP_PACKAGES)"
diff --git a/features.in/rescue/rescue/stage2cfg.mk b/features.in/rescue/rescue/stage2cfg.mk
index 9ed841ec..e0f30596 100644
--- a/features.in/rescue/rescue/stage2cfg.mk
+++ b/features.in/rescue/rescue/stage2cfg.mk
@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ IMAGE_PACKAGES = $(COMMON_PACKAGES) \
 
 MKI_PACK_RESULTS = squash:rescue
 
-debug:
+debug::
 	@echo "** rescue: IMAGE_PACKAGES: $(IMAGE_PACKAGES)"
 	@echo "** rescue: IMAGE_PACKAGES_REGEXP: $(IMAGE_PACKAGES_REGEXP)"
diff --git a/sub.in/stage2/Makefile b/sub.in/stage2/Makefile
index d576b4d2..c225f8ea 100644
--- a/sub.in/stage2/Makefile
+++ b/sub.in/stage2/Makefile
@@ -43,4 +43,4 @@ all: | $(GLOBAL_DEBUG) build-image run-image-scripts pack-image \
 	$(GLOBAL_CLEAN_WORKDIR)
 
 # dummy
-debug: ;
+debug:: ;