diff --git a/include/toplevel.mk b/include/toplevel.mk
index 328214be1b..96f32139d9 100644
--- a/include/toplevel.mk
+++ b/include/toplevel.mk
@@ -210,9 +210,7 @@ prereq:: prepare-tmpinfo .config
 	@+$(NO_TRACE_MAKE) -r -s $@
 
 check: .config FORCE
-	@+$(NO_TRACE_MAKE) -r -s $@ QUIET= V=s
-
-val.%: FORCE
+check val.% var.%: FORCE
 	@+$(NO_TRACE_MAKE) -r -s $@ QUIET= V=s
 
 WARN_PARALLEL_ERROR = $(if $(BUILD_LOG),,$(and $(filter -j,$(MAKEFLAGS)),$(findstring s,$(OPENWRT_VERBOSE))))