diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 4277f6234..c038ddb15 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,14 @@
+2008-07-05  Werner Lemberg  <wl@gnu.org>
+
+	Since FreeType uses `$(value ...)', we now need GNU make 3.80 or
+	newer.
+
+	* configure: zsh doesn't like ${1+"$@"}.
+	Update needed GNU make version.
+	* builds/toplevel.mk: Check for `$(eval ...)'.
+	* docs/INSTALL.GNU, docs/INSTALL.CROSS, docs/INSTALL.UNIX: Document
+	it.
+
 2008-07-04  Werner Lemberg  <wl@gnu.org>
 
 	* src/raster/ftraster.c (Draw_Sweep): If span is smaller than one
diff --git a/builds/toplevel.mk b/builds/toplevel.mk
index 57b5ca56c..f2d759a37 100644
--- a/builds/toplevel.mk
+++ b/builds/toplevel.mk
@@ -34,6 +34,16 @@
 # details on host platform detection and library builds.
 
 
+# First of all, check whether we have `$(value ...)'.  We do this by testing
+# for `$(eval ...)' which has been introduced in the same GNU make version.
+
+eval_available :=
+$(eval eval_available := T)
+ifneq ($(eval_available),T)
+  $(error FreeType's build system needs a Make program which supports $$(value))
+endif
+
+
 .PHONY: all dist distclean modules setup
 
 
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index c72e44b72..b59d35d07 100644
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 #
-# Copyright 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by
+# Copyright 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 by
 # David Turner, Robert Wilhelm, and Werner Lemberg.
 #
 # This file is part of the FreeType project, and may only be used, modified,
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ fi
 
 if test -z "`$GNUMAKE -v 2>/dev/null | grep GNU`"; then
   if test -z "`$GNUMAKE -v 2>/dev/null | grep makepp`"; then
-    echo "GNU make (>= 3.79.1) or makepp (>= 1.19) is required to build FreeType2." >&2
+    echo "GNU make (>= 3.80) or makepp (>= 1.19) is required to build FreeType2." >&2
     echo "Please try" >&2
     echo "  \`GNUMAKE=<GNU make command name> $0'." >&2
     echo "or >&2"
@@ -92,9 +92,13 @@ fi
 # call make
 
 CFG=
-for x in ${1+"$@"}; do
-  CFG="$CFG '$x'"
-done
+# work around zsh bug which doesn't like `${1+"$@"}'
+case $# in
+0) ;;
+*) for x in "$@"; do
+     CFG="$CFG '$x'"
+   done ;;
+esac
 CFG=$CFG $GNUMAKE setup unix
 
 # eof
diff --git a/docs/INSTALL.CROSS b/docs/INSTALL.CROSS
index 1a0c00cdd..3def12c8c 100644
--- a/docs/INSTALL.CROSS
+++ b/docs/INSTALL.CROSS
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ INSTALL.UNIX for required tools and the basic self-building procedure.
   -----------------
 
     For self-building the FreeType library  on a Unix system, GNU Make
-    3.78.1 or  newer is required.  INSTALL.UNIX contains  hints how to
+    3.80 or  newer is required.   INSTALL.UNIX  contains  hints how to
     check the installed `make'.
 
     The GNU C  compiler to cross-build the target  system is required.
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ INSTALL.UNIX for required tools and the basic self-building procedure.
 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-Copyright 2006 by suzuki toshiya
+Copyright 2006, 2008 by suzuki toshiya
 David Turner, Robert Wilhelm, and Werner Lemberg.
 
 
diff --git a/docs/INSTALL.GNU b/docs/INSTALL.GNU
index 7b588cb87..72df50a4e 100644
--- a/docs/INSTALL.GNU
+++ b/docs/INSTALL.GNU
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ in the file INSTALL.UNIX instead.
 
     to display its version number.
 
-    VERSION 3.78.1 OR NEWER IS NEEDED!
+    VERSION 3.80 OR NEWER IS NEEDED!
 
 
   2. Invoke `make'
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ in the file INSTALL.UNIX instead.
 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by
+Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 by
 David Turner, Robert Wilhelm, and Werner Lemberg.
 
 This  file is  part of  the FreeType  project, and  may only  be used,
diff --git a/docs/INSTALL.UNIX b/docs/INSTALL.UNIX
index 3ddfb8e4b..1d5af993f 100644
--- a/docs/INSTALL.UNIX
+++ b/docs/INSTALL.UNIX
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ or MSys on Win32:
        GNU Make  <version number>
        Copyright (C) <year> Free Software Foundation Inc.
 
-    Note that version 3.78.1 or higher is *required* or the build will
+    Note that version  3.80 or higher is *required* or the  build will
     fail.
 
     It is also fine to have GNU Make under another name (e.g. 'gmake')