diff --git a/1985/sicherman/Makefile b/1985/sicherman/Makefile
index e765bb2a9..cb300a033 100644
--- a/1985/sicherman/Makefile
+++ b/1985/sicherman/Makefile
@@ -136,14 +136,16 @@ all: data ${TARGET}
 	sandwich supernova deep_magic magic charon pluto
 
 ${PROG}: ${PROG}.c ${PROG}.alt.c
-	${CC} ${CFLAGS} $< -o $@ ${LDFLAGS} || \
-	    ${CC} ${CFLAGS} ${PROG}.alt.c -o $@ ${LDFLAGS}
+	${CC} ${CFLAGS} $< -o $@ ${LDFLAGS}
 
 # alternative executable
 #
 alt: data ${ALT_TARGET}
 	@${TRUE}
 
+${PROG}.alt: ${PROG}.alt.c
+	${CC} ${CFLAGS} ${PROG}.alt.c -o $@ ${LDFLAGS}
+
 # data files
 #
 data: ${DATA}
diff --git a/1985/sicherman/README.md b/1985/sicherman/README.md
index cbf54d1f6..b78855022 100644
--- a/1985/sicherman/README.md
+++ b/1985/sicherman/README.md
@@ -4,9 +4,8 @@
     make all
 ```
 
-There is another version that will be compiled in case the first fails. This
-should happen automatically. See [Alternate code](#alternate-code) below for
-more details on it.
+There is another version that can be compiled in case the first fails.
+See [Alternate code](#alternate-code) below for more details on it.
 
 
 ## To use:
@@ -40,15 +39,11 @@ audience.
 
 ### Alternate build:
 
-Although this will be built if the original fails to compile you can do it
-manually like:
 
 ``` <!---sh-->
     make alt
 ```
 
-In this case it will be built as `sicherman.alt`.
-
 
 ### Alternate use:
 
diff --git a/1985/sicherman/index.html b/1985/sicherman/index.html
index 55ef82f9f..ae8c5a759 100644
--- a/1985/sicherman/index.html
+++ b/1985/sicherman/index.html
@@ -397,9 +397,8 @@ Location: <a href="../../location.html#US">US</a> - <em>United States of America
 <!-- BEFORE: 1st line of markdown file: 1985/sicherman/README.md -->
 <h2 id="to-build">To build:</h2>
 <pre><code>    make all</code></pre>
-<p>There is another version that will be compiled in case the first fails. This
-should happen automatically. See <a href="#alternate-code">Alternate code</a> below for
-more details on it.</p>
+<p>There is another version that can be compiled in case the first fails.
+See <a href="#alternate-code">Alternate code</a> below for more details on it.</p>
 <h2 id="to-use">To use:</h2>
 <pre><code>    ./sicherman &lt; file
 
@@ -417,10 +416,7 @@ will be built in the case of the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test
 In this case it’ll be compiled to <code>sicherman</code> to simplify it for the larger
 audience.</p>
 <h3 id="alternate-build">Alternate build:</h3>
-<p>Although this will be built if the original fails to compile you can do it
-manually like:</p>
 <pre><code>    make alt</code></pre>
-<p>In this case it will be built as <code>sicherman.alt</code>.</p>
 <h3 id="alternate-use">Alternate use:</h3>
 <pre><code>    ./sicherman.alt &lt; file</code></pre>
 <h3 id="alternate-try">Alternate try:</h3>