diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 6fccf65..bbb15df 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1331,11 +1331,11 @@
 # Clear a bunch of variables before executing the submake
 tools/: FORCE
 	$(Q)mkdir -p $(objtree)/tools
-	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS= O=$(objtree) subdir=tools -C $(src)/tools/
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS="$(filter --j% -j,$(MAKEFLAGS))" O=$(objtree) subdir=tools -C $(src)/tools/
 
 tools/%: FORCE
 	$(Q)mkdir -p $(objtree)/tools
-	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS= O=$(objtree) subdir=tools -C $(src)/tools/ $*
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) LDFLAGS= MAKEFLAGS="$(filter --j% -j,$(MAKEFLAGS))" O=$(objtree) subdir=tools -C $(src)/tools/ $*
 
 # Single targets
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------