diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1932984478c..23b9ce5a2c2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1468,6 +1468,13 @@ kernelrelease:
 kernelversion:
 	@echo $(KERNELVERSION)
 
+# Clear a bunch of variables before executing the submake
+tools/: FORCE
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS= -C $(src)/tools/
+
+tools/%: FORCE
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS= -C $(src)/tools/ $*
+
 # Single targets
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Single targets are compatible with:
diff --git a/tools/Makefile b/tools/Makefile
index f87c0ec63e6..3ae43947a17 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile
+++ b/tools/Makefile
@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@ help:
 	@echo '  vm         - misc vm tools'
 	@echo '  x86_energy_perf_policy - Intel energy policy tool'
 	@echo ''
+	@echo 'You can do:'
+	@echo ' $$ make -C tools/<tool>_install'
+	@echo ''
+	@echo '  from the kernel command line to build and install one of'
+	@echo '  the tools above'
+	@echo ''
+	@echo '  $$ make tools/install'
+	@echo ''
+	@echo '  installs all tools.'
+	@echo ''
 	@echo 'Cleaning targets:'
 	@echo ''
 	@echo '  all of the above with the "_clean" string appended cleans'