diff --git a/build.make b/build.make
index e5769c58..e3d4795d 100644
--- a/build.make
+++ b/build.make
@@ -143,11 +143,11 @@ test-shellcheck:
 	@ ret=0; \
 	if ! command -v docker; then \
 		echo "skipped, no Docker"; \
-		return 0; \
+		exit 0; \
         fi; \
 	for dir in $(abspath $(TEST_SHELLCHECK_DIRS)); do \
 		echo; \
 		echo "$$dir:"; \
 		./release-tools/verify-shellcheck.sh "$$dir" || ret=1; \
 	done; \
-	return $$ret
+	exit $$ret