diff --git a/make/topdir.mk b/make/topdir.mk
index 4d951400..d6cf4fc7 100644
--- a/make/topdir.mk
+++ b/make/topdir.mk
@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@ distclean: topdir.distclean
 config:
 mrproper:distclean topdir.mrproper
 
+ifeq ($(ORDERED_SUBDIRS),)
 SUBDIRS       ?= $(wildcard inst/pre make scripts contrib src libsrc \
 		 tools include lib bin util plugins conf config cfg \
 		 images htdocs tmpl doc test inst/post)
+endif
+
 PROJECT_DESCR  = $(TOPDIR)/make/project.conf
 GIT_DESCR      = $(TOPDIR)/.git/description
 LIST_VCS_FILES = /bin/bash $(MOD_SCRIPT_DIR)/scm.sh ls-files