Re: -n option executes commands; bug?"

[Paul D. Smith]

The stuff you want is in the middle, which you elided.

     The `-n', `-t', and `-q' options do not affect command lines that
  begin with `+' characters or contain the strings `$(MAKE)' or
  `${MAKE}'.  Note that only the line containing the `+' character or the
  strings `$(MAKE)' or `${MAKE}' is run regardless of these options.
  Other lines in the same rule are not run unless they too begin with `+'
  or contain `$(MAKE)' or `${MAKE}' (*Note How the `MAKE' Variable Works:
  MAKE Variable.)

There is also information about this in various other pages that discuss
-n.

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