diff --git a/ghcup b/ghcup
index 3bd30ad..769cd2d 100755
--- a/ghcup
+++ b/ghcup
@@ -453,6 +453,24 @@ edo()
     "$@" || exit 2
 }
 
+# @FUNCTION: emake
+# @USAGE: [arguments]
+# @DESCRIPTION:
+# Wrapper around 'make', may call 'gmake' if it exists.
+emake() { # avoid re-checking for gmake
+    if [ -n "${MAKE}" ] ; then
+        edo ${MAKE} "$@"
+    else
+        if command_exists gmake ; then
+            MAKE=gmake
+            edo ${MAKE} "$@"
+        else
+            MAKE=make
+            edo ${MAKE} "$@"
+        fi
+    fi
+}
+
 # @FUNCTION: debug_message
 # @USAGE: <msg>
 # @DESCRIPTION:
@@ -1189,7 +1207,7 @@ install_ghc() {
         debug_message "Installing GHC into ${inst_location}"
 
         edo ./configure --prefix="${inst_location}"
-        edo make install
+        emake install
 
         # clean up
         edo cd ..
@@ -1545,8 +1563,8 @@ compile_ghc() {
 
         edo ./boot
         edo ./configure --prefix="${inst_location}" --with-ghc="${bootstrap_ghc}"
-        edo make -j${JOBS}
-        edo make install
+        emake -j${JOBS}
+        emake install
 
         # clean up
         edo cd ..