diff --git a/Make-linux b/Make-linux
index 033ca228..3d500d25 100644
--- a/Make-linux
+++ b/Make-linux
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ CXXOPTIMIZER = -g
 GLDLIBS	  = -L/usr/X11R6/lib -lX11 -lXext -lXtst
 GLDOPTS	  = -L$(LIBDIR)
 
+#
+# binary stuff
+#
+BINTARGET = $(BINDIR)/$(TARGET)
+
 #
 # library stuff
 #
diff --git a/Make-solaris b/Make-solaris
index 4a78355d..c045f2f5 100644
--- a/Make-solaris
+++ b/Make-solaris
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ CXXOPTIMIZER = -g
 GLDLIBS	  = -L$(LIBDIR) -lsocket -lnsl -lposix4
 GLDOPTS	  = -z muldefs
 
+#
+# binary stuff
+#
+BINTARGET = $(BINDIR)/$(TARGET)
+
 #
 # library stuff
 #
diff --git a/Makecommon b/Makecommon
index ad8c1558..a8b27ef1 100644
--- a/Makecommon
+++ b/Makecommon
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ NULL =
 # target directories
 #
 LIBDIR    = $(DEPTH)/lib
-TARGETDIR = $(DEPTH)/bin
+BINDIR    = $(DEPTH)/bin
 
 #
 # compiler options
diff --git a/client/Makefile b/client/Makefile
index e7a6573a..9f0e3579 100644
--- a/client/Makefile
+++ b/client/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ include $(DEPTH)/Makecommon
 #
 # target file
 #
-TARGETS = client
+TARGET = client
 
 #
 # source files
@@ -37,8 +37,9 @@ LLDLIBS  =				\
 	-lpthread			\
 	$(NULL)
 
-targets: $(TARGETS)
+targets: $(BINTARGET)
 
-$(TARGETS): $(OBJECTS) $(DEPLIBS)
+$(BINTARGET): $(OBJECTS) $(DEPLIBS)
+	if test ! -d $(BINDIR); then $(MKDIR) $(BINDIR); fi
 	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) -o $@ $(OBJECTS) $(LDFLAGS)
 
diff --git a/server/Makefile b/server/Makefile
index b8dd68a3..301adb38 100644
--- a/server/Makefile
+++ b/server/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ include $(DEPTH)/Makecommon
 #
 # target file
 #
-TARGETS = server
+TARGET = server
 
 #
 # source files
@@ -40,8 +40,9 @@ LLDLIBS  =				\
 	-lpthread			\
 	$(NULL)
 
-targets: $(TARGETS)
+targets: $(BINTARGET)
 
-$(TARGETS): $(OBJECTS) $(DEPLIBS)
+$(BINTARGET): $(OBJECTS) $(DEPLIBS)
+	if test ! -d $(BINDIR); then $(MKDIR) $(BINDIR); fi
 	$(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) -o $@ $(OBJECTS) $(LDFLAGS)