diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index a71059dca..1fa361e03 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Features added
 --------------
 
 * #3241: emit latex warning if buggy titlesec (ref #3210)
+* #3194: Refer the $MAKE environment variable to determine ``make`` command
 
 Bugs fixed
 ----------
diff --git a/doc/invocation.rst b/doc/invocation.rst
index a16ab2128..18c6d5035 100644
--- a/doc/invocation.rst
+++ b/doc/invocation.rst
@@ -384,6 +384,15 @@ You can also give one or more filenames on the command line after the source and
 build directories.  Sphinx will then try to build only these output files (and
 their dependencies).
 
+Environment variables
+---------------------
+
+The :program:`sphinx-build` refers following environment variables:
+
+.. desribe:: MAKE
+
+   A path to make command.  A command name is also allowed.
+   :program:`sphinx-build` uses it to invoke sub-build process on make-mode.
 
 Makefile options
 ----------------
diff --git a/sphinx/make_mode.py b/sphinx/make_mode.py
index 28316458e..6aeeab802 100644
--- a/sphinx/make_mode.py
+++ b/sphinx/make_mode.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class Make(object):
         self.srcdir = srcdir
         self.builddir = builddir
         self.opts = opts
+        self.makecmd = os.environ.get('MAKE', 'make')  # refer $MAKE to determine make command
 
     def builddir_join(self, *comps):
         return path.join(self.builddir, *comps)
@@ -162,13 +163,13 @@ class Make(object):
         if self.run_generic_build('latex') > 0:
             return 1
         with cd(self.builddir_join('latex')):
-            os.system('make all-pdf')
+            os.system('%s all-pdf' % self.makecmd)
 
     def build_latexpdfja(self):
         if self.run_generic_build('latex') > 0:
             return 1
         with cd(self.builddir_join('latex')):
-            os.system('make all-pdf-ja')
+            os.system('%s all-pdf-ja' % self.makecmd)
 
     def build_text(self):
         if self.run_generic_build('text') > 0:
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ class Make(object):
         if self.run_generic_build('texinfo') > 0:
             return 1
         with cd(self.builddir_join('texinfo')):
-            os.system('make info')
+            os.system('%s info' % self.makecmd)
 
     def build_gettext(self):
         dtdir = self.builddir_join('gettext', '.doctrees')