diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/system-requirements.rst b/documentation/ref-manual/system-requirements.rst
index 92e2211629..e0b8400178 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/system-requirements.rst
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/system-requirements.rst
@@ -303,8 +303,13 @@ resolve this by installing a ``buildtools-extended`` tarball that
 contains additional tools, the equivalent of the Debian/Ubuntu ``build-essential``
 package.
 
+For systems with a broken make version (e.g. make 4.2.1 without patches) but
+where the rest of the host tools are usable, you can use the ``buildtools-make``
+tarball instead.
+
 In the sections that follow, three different methods will be described for
-installing the ``buildtools`` or ``buildtools-extended`` toolset.
+installing the ``buildtools``, ``buildtools-extended`` or ``buildtools-make``
+toolset.
 
 Installing a Pre-Built ``buildtools`` Tarball with ``install-buildtools`` script
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -339,6 +344,13 @@ installer and automatically installs the tools for you:
       $ cd poky
       $ scripts/install-buildtools
 
+   Alternatively if your host development system has a broken ``make``
+   version such that you only need a known good version of ``make``,
+   you can use the ``--make-only`` option:
+
+      $ cd poky
+      $ scripts/install-buildtools --make-only
+
 2. Source the tools environment setup script by using a command like the
    following::
 
@@ -373,6 +385,10 @@ steps:
 
       $ sh ~/Downloads/x86_64-buildtools-extended-nativesdk-standalone-&DISTRO;.sh
 
+   An example for the make-only installer::
+
+      $ sh ~/Downloads/x86_64-buildtools-make-nativesdk-standalone-&DISTRO;.sh
+
    During execution, a prompt appears that allows you to choose the
    installation directory. For example, you could choose the following:
    ``/home/your-username/buildtools``
@@ -418,6 +434,10 @@ installer:
 
       $ bitbake buildtools-extended-tarball
 
+   or to build the make-only tarball::
+
+      $ bitbake buildtools-make-tarball
+
    .. note::
 
       The :term:`SDKMACHINE` variable in your ``local.conf`` file determines
@@ -441,6 +461,10 @@ installer:
 
       $ sh ~/Downloads/x86_64-buildtools-extended-nativesdk-standalone-&DISTRO;.sh
 
+   or for the make-only installer::
+
+      $ sh ~/Downloads/x86_64-buildtools-make-nativesdk-standalone-&DISTRO;.sh
+
    During execution, a prompt appears that allows you to choose the
    installation directory. For example, you could choose the following:
    ``/home/your_username/buildtools``