diff --git a/dist/tools/Makefile b/dist/tools/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9195a0bf8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dist/tools/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+HOST_TOOLS=ethos uhcpd
+
+.PHONY: all $(HOST_TOOLS)
+
+all: $(HOST_TOOLS)
+
+$(HOST_TOOLS):
+	make -C $@