diff --git a/security/selinux/Makefile b/security/selinux/Makefile
index 0aecf9334ec3..8b21520bd4b9 100644
--- a/security/selinux/Makefile
+++ b/security/selinux/Makefile
@@ -26,5 +26,9 @@ quiet_cmd_flask = GEN     $(obj)/flask.h $(obj)/av_permissions.h
       cmd_flask = $< $(obj)/flask.h $(obj)/av_permissions.h
 
 targets += flask.h av_permissions.h
-$(obj)/flask.h $(obj)/av_permissions.h &: scripts/selinux/genheaders/genheaders FORCE
+# once make >= 4.3 is required, we can use grouped targets in the rule below,
+# which basically involves adding both headers and a '&' before the colon, see
+# the example below:
+#   $(obj)/flask.h $(obj)/av_permissions.h &: scripts/selinux/...
+$(obj)/flask.h: scripts/selinux/genheaders/genheaders FORCE
 	$(call if_changed,flask)