diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ae4a8f0a4..306f9ed19 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ ifeq ($(ENABLE_INTERNAL_API_DOCS), yes)
 makefiles-late += doc/internal-api/local.mk
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(ENABLE_EXTERNAL_API_DOCS), yes)
+makefiles-late += doc/external-api/local.mk
+endif
+
 # Miscellaneous global Flags
 
 OPTIMIZE = 1
@@ -130,9 +134,7 @@ internal-api-html:
 	@exit 1
 endif
 
-ifeq ($(ENABLE_EXTERNAL_API_DOCS), yes)
-$(eval $(call include-sub-makefile, doc/external-api/local.mk))
-else
+ifneq ($(ENABLE_EXTERNAL_API_DOCS), yes)
 .PHONY: external-api-html
 external-api-html:
 	@echo "External API docs are disabled. Configure with '--enable-external-api-docs', or avoid calling 'make external-api-html'."