diff --git a/Cantera/python/Makefile.in b/Cantera/python/Makefile.in
index 78be58159..f3afb3f16 100755
--- a/Cantera/python/Makefile.in
+++ b/Cantera/python/Makefile.in
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ SRCS = src/ctphase_methods.cpp \
 os_is_win = @OS_IS_WIN@
 use_clib_dll = @USE_CLIB_DLL@
 
+#LOCAL_DEFS=-DDEBUG_MODE
+PIC_FLAG=@PIC@
+
+CXX_FLAGS= @CXXFLAGS@ $(LOCAL_DEFS)  $(PIC_FLAG) 
+
 all: _build 
 
 win: _winbuild
@@ -47,7 +52,7 @@ win: _winbuild
 _build: $(SRCS) $(LIB_DEPS) Makefile setup.py
 	touch src/pycantera.cpp 
 	/bin/rm -f _build
-	(CXX="@CXX@"; export CXX; CC="@CXX@"; export CC; PURIFY="@PURIFY@"; export PURIFY; @PYTHON_CMD@ setup.py build)
+	(CXX="@CXX@"; export CXX; CC="@CXX@"; export CC; CFLAGS="$(CXX_FLAGS)"; export CFLAGS; PURIFY="@PURIFY@"; export PURIFY; @PYTHON_CMD@ setup.py build)
 	echo 'ok' > _build
 
 #
@@ -86,7 +91,7 @@ endif
 clean:
 	@PYTHON_CMD@ setup.py clean
 	rm -f _build; rm -f _winbuild
-	cd build; rm -fR *
+	(cd build; rm -fR *)
 	cd src; rm -f *.o
 
 depends:
diff --git a/Cantera/python/examples/Makefile b/Cantera/python/examples/Makefile
deleted file mode 100644
index 87dbe90c6..000000000
--- a/Cantera/python/examples/Makefile
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,42 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-PY_DEMO_DIRS = equilibrium flames gasdynamics kinetics liquid_vapor \
-               misc reactors surface_chemistry transport fuel_cells
-MAKE = make
-all:
-	@(for d in $(PY_DEMO_DIRS) ; do \
-            echo "entering directory $${d}..."; \
-            (cd $${d}; $(MAKE)) ; \
-        done)
-
-run:
-	@(for d in $(PY_DEMO_DIRS) ; do \
-	    echo "entering directory $${d}..."; \
-            (cd $${d}; $(MAKE) run) ; \
-	done)
-
-test:
-	@(for d in $(PY_DEMO_DIRS) ; do \
-            echo "entering directory $${d}..."; \
-            (cd $${d}; $(MAKE) test) ; \
-        done)
-
-install:
-	/usr/bin/install -c -d  C:/cygwin/usr/local/cantera/demos/python
-	/usr/bin/install -c -c -m ug+rw,o+r Makefile C:/cygwin/usr/local/cantera/demos/python 
-	/usr/bin/install -c -c -m ug+rw,o+r run_examples.py C:/cygwin/usr/local/cantera/demos/python 
-	@(for d in $(PY_DEMO_DIRS) ; do \
-            echo "entering directory $${d}..."; \
-            (cd $${d}; $(MAKE) install) ; \
-        done)
-
-
-clean:
-	@(for dd in $(PY_DEMO_DIRS) ; do \
-	    echo "entering directory $${dd}..."; \
-            (cd $${dd}; $(MAKE) -i clean; cd ..) ; \
-	done)
-
-# end of file
-
-