diff --git a/tools/Makefile b/tools/Makefile
index 3ae43947a171f3d9924a22898fe1e410beb89a98..1f9a529fe544f768c4322e884e4c34d02d482b5e 100644
--- a/tools/Makefile
+++ b/tools/Makefile
@@ -31,44 +31,44 @@ help:
 	@echo '  clean: a summary clean target to clean _all_ folders'
 
 cpupower: FORCE
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)power/$@/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1)
+	$(call descend,power/$@)
 
 firewire lguest perf usb virtio vm: FORCE
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)$@/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1)
+	$(call descend,$@)
 
 selftests: FORCE
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)testing/$@/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1)
+	$(call descend,testing/$@)
 
 turbostat x86_energy_perf_policy: FORCE
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)power/x86/$@/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1)
+	$(call descend,power/x86/$@)
 
 cpupower_install:
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)power/$(@:_install=)/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1) install
+	$(call descend,power/$(@:_install=),install)
 
 firewire_install lguest_install perf_install usb_install virtio_install vm_install:
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)$(@:_install=)/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1) install
+	$(call descend,$(@:_install=),install)
 
 selftests_install:
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)testing/$(@:_clean=)/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1) install
+	$(call descend,testing/$(@:_clean=),install)
 
 turbostat_install x86_energy_perf_policy_install:
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)power/x86/$(@:_install=)/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1) install
+	$(call descend,power/x86/$(@:_install=),install)
 
 install: cpupower_install firewire_install lguest_install perf_install \
 		selftests_install turbostat_install usb_install virtio_install \
 		vm_install x86_energy_perf_policy_install
 
 cpupower_clean:
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)power/cpupower/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1) clean
+	$(call descend,power/cpupower,clean)
 
 firewire_clean lguest_clean perf_clean usb_clean virtio_clean vm_clean:
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)$(@:_clean=)/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1) clean
+	$(call descend,$(@:_clean=),clean)
 
 selftests_clean:
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)testing/$(@:_clean=)/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1) clean
+	$(call descend,testing/$(@:_clean=),clean)
 
 turbostat_clean x86_energy_perf_policy_clean:
-	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)power/x86/$(@:_clean=)/ $(QUIET_SUBDIR1) clean
+	$(call descend,power/x86/$(@:_clean=),clean)
 
 clean: cpupower_clean firewire_clean lguest_clean perf_clean selftests_clean \
 		turbostat_clean usb_clean virtio_clean vm_clean \
diff --git a/tools/scripts/Makefile.include b/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
index 96ce80a3743ba22e13935f238e9835aca8923326..4a9e3176f7437bebd37eabf82e65e0abcc3cbda8 100644
--- a/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
+++ b/tools/scripts/Makefile.include
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ else
 NO_SUBDIR = :
 endif
 
+#
+# Define a callable command for descending to a new directory
+#
+# Call by doing: $(call descend,directory[,target])
+#
+descend = \
+	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)$(1) $(QUIET_SUBDIR1) $(2)
+
 QUIET_SUBDIR0  = +$(MAKE) -C # space to separate -C and subdir
 QUIET_SUBDIR1  =