diff --git a/cpp/Makefile.am b/cpp/Makefile.am
index dd3fcedb5..594b34cba 100644
--- a/cpp/Makefile.am
+++ b/cpp/Makefile.am
@@ -39,8 +39,6 @@ external_libs:
 	@echo Compiling CppUnitLite...; cd ../CppUnitLite; make all
 	@echo Compiling Colamd...;      cd ../colamd; make all
 
-install: external_libs
-
 clean : clean_external_libs
 	@echo Cleaning Cpp...;  rm -f *.o *.lo *.*~ libgtsam.la $(check_PROGRAMS)
 
@@ -161,3 +159,5 @@ TESTS = $(check_PROGRAMS)
 # rule to run an executable
 %.run: % libgtsam.la
 	./$^
+
+install-am: external_libs