diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0f4dbbf03a61..222e4ed76c6d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -156,39 +156,15 @@ kernel: buildkernel installkernel
 
 #
 # Perform a few tests to determine if the installed tools are adequate
-# for building the world. These are for older systems (prior to 2.2.5).
-#
-# From 2.2.5 onwards, the installed tools will pass these upgrade tests,
-# so the normal make world is capable of doing what is required to update
-# the system to current.
+# for building the world.
 #
 upgrade_checks:
-	@cd ${.CURDIR}; \
-	if ! make -m ${.CURDIR}/share/mk -Dnotdef test >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
-		make make; \
-	fi
-	@cd ${.CURDIR}; \
-	if make -V .CURDIR:C/.// 2>&1 >/dev/null | \
-	    grep -q "Unknown modifier 'C'"; then \
-		make make; \
-	fi
-
-#
-# A simple test target used as part of the test to see if make supports
-# the -m argument.  Also test that make will only evaluate a conditional
-# as far as is necessary to determine its value.
-#
-test:
-.if defined(notdef)
-.undef notdef
-.if defined(notdef) && ${notdef:U}
-.endif
-.endif
+	@(cd ${.CURDIR}/tools/regression/usr.bin/make && make 2>/dev/null) || \
+	(cd ${.CURDIR} && make make)
 
 #
 # Upgrade the installed make to the current version using the installed
-# headers, libraries and build tools. This is required on installed versions
-# prior to 2.2.5 in which the installed make doesn't support the -m argument.
+# headers, libraries and tools.
 #
 make:
 	@echo
diff --git a/tools/build/make_check/Makefile b/tools/build/make_check/Makefile
index 57b0d8fc75d0..f4dec2efeda3 100644
--- a/tools/build/make_check/Makefile
+++ b/tools/build/make_check/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # $FreeBSD$
 
 # Test for broken LHS expansion.
-# This *must* case make(1) to detect a recursive variable, and fail as such.
+# This *must* cause make(1) to detect a recursive variable, and fail as such.
 .if make(lhs_expn)
 FOO=		${BAR}
 BAR${NIL}=	${FOO}
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ all:
 	@echo "Running test lhs_expn"
 	@! ${MAKE} lhs_expn && true || ${MAKE} failure
 	@echo "PASS: Test lhs_expn detected no regression."
+	@echo "Running test notdef"
+	@${MAKE} notdef || ${MAKE} failure
+	@echo "PASS: Test notdef detected no regression."
+	@echo "Running test modifiers"
+	@${MAKE} modifiers || ${MAKE} failure
+	@echo "PASS: Test modifiers detected no regression."
 
 .if make(double)
 # Doubly-defined targets.  make(1) will warn, but use the "right" one.  If it
@@ -57,6 +63,24 @@ sysvmatch:
 lhs_expn:
 	@true
 
+.if make(notdef)
+# make(1) claims to only evaluate a conditional as far as is necessary
+# to determine its value; that was not always the case.
+.undef notdef
+notdef:
+.if defined(notdef) && ${notdef:U}
+.endif
+.endif
+
+.if make(modifiers)
+# See if make(1) supports the C modifier.
+modifiers:
+	@if ${MAKE} -V .CURDIR:C/.// 2>&1 >/dev/null | \
+	    grep -q "Unknown modifier 'C'"; then \
+		false; \
+	fi
+.endif
+
 failure:
 	@echo "FAIL: Test failed: regression detected.  See above."
 	@false
diff --git a/tools/regression/usr.bin/make/Makefile b/tools/regression/usr.bin/make/Makefile
index 57b0d8fc75d0..f4dec2efeda3 100644
--- a/tools/regression/usr.bin/make/Makefile
+++ b/tools/regression/usr.bin/make/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # $FreeBSD$
 
 # Test for broken LHS expansion.
-# This *must* case make(1) to detect a recursive variable, and fail as such.
+# This *must* cause make(1) to detect a recursive variable, and fail as such.
 .if make(lhs_expn)
 FOO=		${BAR}
 BAR${NIL}=	${FOO}
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ all:
 	@echo "Running test lhs_expn"
 	@! ${MAKE} lhs_expn && true || ${MAKE} failure
 	@echo "PASS: Test lhs_expn detected no regression."
+	@echo "Running test notdef"
+	@${MAKE} notdef || ${MAKE} failure
+	@echo "PASS: Test notdef detected no regression."
+	@echo "Running test modifiers"
+	@${MAKE} modifiers || ${MAKE} failure
+	@echo "PASS: Test modifiers detected no regression."
 
 .if make(double)
 # Doubly-defined targets.  make(1) will warn, but use the "right" one.  If it
@@ -57,6 +63,24 @@ sysvmatch:
 lhs_expn:
 	@true
 
+.if make(notdef)
+# make(1) claims to only evaluate a conditional as far as is necessary
+# to determine its value; that was not always the case.
+.undef notdef
+notdef:
+.if defined(notdef) && ${notdef:U}
+.endif
+.endif
+
+.if make(modifiers)
+# See if make(1) supports the C modifier.
+modifiers:
+	@if ${MAKE} -V .CURDIR:C/.// 2>&1 >/dev/null | \
+	    grep -q "Unknown modifier 'C'"; then \
+		false; \
+	fi
+.endif
+
 failure:
 	@echo "FAIL: Test failed: regression detected.  See above."
 	@false