diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index aabbbd9..0440e6b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -52,3 +52,7 @@ doc:
 clean::
 	@+$(MAKE) -C src/ clean
 
+
+help:
+	@echo "Top Makefile help message"
+
diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index d2dda44..3b2f40b 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -56,5 +56,5 @@ clean::
 
 
 help:
-	@echo "help message"
+	@echo "SRC Makefile help message"
 
diff --git a/src/options.mk b/src/options.mk
index 6e432dd..bec887b 100644
--- a/src/options.mk
+++ b/src/options.mk
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ OBJS = $(addprefix $(BUILDDIR)/, $(patsubst %.f,%.o, $(filter-out $(MAIN_F), $(S
 
 .PHONY: clean obj all info
 
+help:
+
+
 info:
 	@echo "Compilation information for msspec $(VERSION)"
 	@echo "FC    : $(FC)"