diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 49dd1e0f00ed768a6c3f9a421c13f41a8f5bad5b..ba74e2f7940e0f4f794d3ac113d1834d9f241f13 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -692,13 +692,21 @@ htest/offline-tests.sh: htest/hpc-htools htest/hpc-mon-collector
 # run before)
 .PHONY: hs-prof hs-prof-quick
 hs-prof:
+	@if [ -z "$(TARGET)" ]; then \
+	  echo "You need to define TARGET when running this rule" 1>&2; \
+	  exit 1; \
+	fi
 	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) clean
-	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) $(HS_ALL_PROGS) HEXTRA="-osuf o"
+	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) $(TARGET) HEXTRA="-osuf o"
 	rm -f $(HS_ALL_PROGS)
 	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) hs-prof-quick
 
 hs-prof-quick:
-	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) $(HS_ALL_PROGS) HEXTRA="-osuf prof_o -prof -auto-all"
+	@if [ -z "$(TARGET)" ]; then \
+	  echo "You need to define TARGET when running this rule" 1>&2; \
+	  exit 1; \
+	fi
+	$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) $(TARGET) HEXTRA="-osuf prof_o -prof -auto-all"
 
 dist_sbin_SCRIPTS = \
 	tools/ganeti-listrunner