diff --git a/make/rules.mk b/make/rules.mk
index e2dc425e..fddab9f5 100644
--- a/make/rules.mk
+++ b/make/rules.mk
@@ -313,14 +313,3 @@ echo-development:
 
 echo-libpath:
 	@echo LD_LIBRARY_PATH = $(LD_LIBRARY_PATH)
-
-local-%:
-	find . -name $@.mk | \
-		while read f; do \
-			cd $(dir $$f) ;\
-			rm -f local.mk ;\
-			ln -s $(notdir $$f local.mk) ;\
-		done
-
-unlocal:
-	rm -f $(shell find . -name local.mk)
diff --git a/make/topdir.mk b/make/topdir.mk
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0736c114
--- /dev/null
+++ b/make/topdir.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+local-%:
+	find . -name $@.mk | \
+		while read f; do \
+			cd $(dir $$f) ;\
+			rm -f local.mk ;\
+			ln -s $(notdir $$f local.mk) ;\
+		done
+
+unlocal:
+	rm -f $(shell find . -name local.mk)