diff --git a/configure/RULES_ARCHS b/configure/RULES_ARCHS
index 3012cea1a..ce28d5301 100644
--- a/configure/RULES_ARCHS
+++ b/configure/RULES_ARCHS
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ buildDirs = $(addprefix O.,$(BUILD_ARCHS))
 
 CROSS_ARCHS += $(CROSS1) $(CROSS2)
 
+ifeq ($(findstring j,$(MAKEFLAGS)),j)
+
 define DEP_template
 $(2): $$(EPICS_HOST_ARCH)
 $(1)$$(DIVIDER)$(2): $(1)$$(DIVIDER)$$(EPICS_HOST_ARCH)
@@ -50,6 +52,8 @@ endef
 $(foreach action, $(ACTIONS), $(foreach arch,\
       $(CROSS_ARCHS),$(eval $(call DEP_template,$(action),$(arch)))))
 
+endif
+
 #*************************************************************************
 
 $(actionArchTargets) : $(buildDirs) O.Common