diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3e4145f..9d5d2ef 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,11 @@ MKDIR	= mkdir -m 0755 -p
 all: subdirs
 
 subdirs:
-	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && $(MAKE)) || exit; done
+	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && \
+		if [ -n "$(OBJDIR)" ]; then \
+		([ -d "$(OBJDIR)$$i" ] || $(MKDIR) -- "$(OBJDIR)$$i") && \
+		$(MAKE) OBJDIR="$(OBJDIR)$$i/"; \
+		else $(MAKE); fi) || exit; done
 
 clean:
 	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && $(MAKE) clean) || exit; done
diff --git a/doc/Makefile b/doc/Makefile
index 5048b2a..95cd1fb 100644
--- a/doc/Makefile
+++ b/doc/Makefile
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@ INSTALL	= install
 all: subdirs $(TARGETS)
 
 subdirs:
-	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && $(MAKE)) || exit; done
+	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && \
+		if [ -n "$(OBJDIR)" ]; then \
+		([ -d "$(OBJDIR)$$i" ] || $(MKDIR) -- "$(OBJDIR)$$i") && \
+		$(MAKE) OBJDIR="$(OBJDIR)$$i/"; \
+		else $(MAKE); fi) || exit; done
 
 $(OBJDIR)gtkdoc/libDesktop.types: ../config.sh
 	./gtkdoc.sh -P "$(PREFIX)" -- "$(OBJDIR)gtkdoc/libDesktop.types"
diff --git a/doc/gtkdoc/Makefile b/doc/gtkdoc/Makefile
index 5a92a09..9fa587b 100644
--- a/doc/gtkdoc/Makefile
+++ b/doc/gtkdoc/Makefile
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
 SUBDIRS	= tmpl
+MKDIR	= mkdir -m 0755 -p
 
 
 all: subdirs
 
 subdirs:
-	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && $(MAKE)) || exit; done
+	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && \
+		if [ -n "$(OBJDIR)" ]; then \
+		([ -d "$(OBJDIR)$$i" ] || $(MKDIR) -- "$(OBJDIR)$$i") && \
+		$(MAKE) OBJDIR="$(OBJDIR)$$i/"; \
+		else $(MAKE); fi) || exit; done
 
 clean:
 	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && $(MAKE) clean) || exit; done
diff --git a/include/Makefile b/include/Makefile
index 23d1e86..f6c0b6f 100644
--- a/include/Makefile
+++ b/include/Makefile
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@ INCLUDEDIR= $(PREFIX)/include
 all: subdirs
 
 subdirs:
-	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && $(MAKE)) || exit; done
+	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && \
+		if [ -n "$(OBJDIR)" ]; then \
+		([ -d "$(OBJDIR)$$i" ] || $(MKDIR) -- "$(OBJDIR)$$i") && \
+		$(MAKE) OBJDIR="$(OBJDIR)$$i/"; \
+		else $(MAKE); fi) || exit; done
 
 clean:
 	@for i in $(SUBDIRS); do (cd "$$i" && $(MAKE) clean) || exit; done