diff --git a/.github/workflows/checks.yml b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
index e2da5ef5b..21f9b0cac 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/checks.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,4 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           # add requirements
           sudo apt install portaudio19-dev gettext rename
-          export UNOPT=1
-          ./check
-          ./build
+          make check build BUILDFLAGS=""
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9cc9478e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+SHELL := bash
+.SHELLFLAGS := -eu -o pipefail -c
+.DELETE_ON_ERROR:
+MAKEFLAGS += --warn-undefined-variables
+MAKEFLAGS += --no-builtin-rules
+SUBMAKE := $(MAKE) --print-directory
+.SUFFIXES:
+
+BUILDFLAGS := --release --strip
+RUNFLAGS :=
+CHECKABLE := rslib pylib qt
+DEVEL := rspy pylib qt
+
+# - modern pip required for wheel
+# - add qt if missing
+pyenv:
+	python3 -m venv pyenv && \
+	. pyenv/bin/activate && \
+	pip install --upgrade pip setuptools && \
+	python -c 'import PyQt5' 2>/dev/null || pip install -r qt/requirements.qt
+
+# update build hash
+meta/buildhash:
+	oldhash=$$(test -f meta/buildhash && cat meta/buildhash || true); \
+	newhash=$$(git rev-parse --short HEAD); \
+	if [ "$$oldhash" != "$$newhash" ]; then \
+		echo $$newhash > meta/buildhash; \
+	fi
+
+.PHONY: run
+run: pyenv meta/buildhash
+	@. pyenv/bin/activate && \
+	for dir in $(DEVEL); do \
+	  $(SUBMAKE) -C $$dir develop BUILDFLAGS="$(BUILDFLAGS)"; \
+	done; \
+	echo "Starting Anki..."; \
+	qt/runanki $(RUNFLAGS)
+
+.PHONY: build
+build: pyenv meta/buildhash
+	@. pyenv/bin/activate && \
+	for dir in $(DEVEL); do \
+	  $(SUBMAKE) -C $$dir build BUILDFLAGS="$(BUILDFLAGS)"; \
+	done; \
+	helpers/rename-with-buildhash
+	@echo
+	@echo "Build complete."
+
+.PHONY: clean
+clean:
+	rm -rf dist
+	@for dir in $(DEVEL); do \
+	  $(SUBMAKE) -C $$dir clean; \
+	done
+
+.PHONY: check
+check: pyenv meta/buildhash
+	@. pyenv/bin/activate && \
+	for dir in $(CHECKABLE); do \
+	  $(SUBMAKE) -C $$dir check; \
+	done;
+	@echo
+	@echo "All checks passed!"
+
+.PHONY: fix
+fix:
+	for dir in $(CHECKABLE); do \
+	  $(SUBMAKE) -C $$dir fix; \
+	done; \
diff --git a/build b/build
deleted file mode 100755
index 17d2f5ccd..000000000
--- a/build
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-set -e
-
-. scripts.inc
-
-rm -rf dist
-
-for dir in $DEVEL; do
-  echo $dir
-  (cd $dir && make build BUILDFLAGS="$BUILDFLAGS")
-done
-
-helpers/rename-with-buildhash
diff --git a/check b/check
deleted file mode 100755
index 201be0dd9..000000000
--- a/check
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-set -e
-
-. scripts.inc
-
-# install prereqs before checking
-for dir in $DEVEL; do
-    echo $dir
-    (cd $dir && make develop BUILDFLAGS="$BUILDFLAGS")
-done    
-
-for dir in $CHECKABLE; do
-  echo $dir
-  (cd $dir && make check)
-done
diff --git a/clean b/clean
deleted file mode 100755
index 069776e12..000000000
--- a/clean
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-set -e
-
-. scripts.inc
-
-rm -rf dist
-
-for dir in $DEVEL; do
-  echo $dir
-  (cd $dir && make clean)
-done
diff --git a/fix b/fix
deleted file mode 100755
index 8aea5abf9..000000000
--- a/fix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-set -e
-
-. scripts.inc
-
-for dir in $CHECKABLE; do
-  echo $dir
-  (cd $dir && make fix)
-done
diff --git a/pylib/Makefile b/pylib/Makefile
index aea5d4f4b..df773c043 100644
--- a/pylib/Makefile
+++ b/pylib/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-PREFIX := /usr
 SHELL := bash
 .SHELLFLAGS := -eu -o pipefail -c
 .DELETE_ON_ERROR:
diff --git a/qt/Makefile b/qt/Makefile
index 9afc5cf64..26860ae49 100644
--- a/qt/Makefile
+++ b/qt/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-PREFIX := /usr
 SHELL := bash
 .SHELLFLAGS := -eu -o pipefail -c
 .DELETE_ON_ERROR:
diff --git a/run b/run
index 8a2f87fed..9bbd8e2d1 100755
--- a/run
+++ b/run
@@ -1,12 +1,3 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-set -e
-
-. scripts.inc
-
-for dir in $DEVEL; do
-  echo $dir
-  (cd $dir && make develop BUILDFLAGS="$BUILDFLAGS")
-done
-
-qt/runanki "$@"
+make -C $(dirname $0) run RUNFLAGS="$*"