diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index a28d74457..c9eacb451 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -35,5 +35,13 @@ errcheck:
 vendor-status:
 	@govendor status
 
-.PHONY: build test testacc vet fmt fmtcheck errcheck vendor-status
+test-compile:
+	@if [ "$(TEST)" = "./..." ]; then \
+		echo "ERROR: Set TEST to a specific package. For example,"; \
+		echo "  make test-compile TEST=./aws"; \
+		exit 1; \
+	fi
+	go test -c $(TEST) $(TESTARGS)
+
+.PHONY: build test testacc vet fmt fmtcheck errcheck vendor-status test-compile