diff --git a/2006/sloane/Makefile b/2006/sloane/Makefile
index e60349445..bf4edcbbd 100644
--- a/2006/sloane/Makefile
+++ b/2006/sloane/Makefile
@@ -57,9 +57,12 @@ CSTD= -std=gnu99
 #
 ARCH=
 
+# variable to simplify redefining sleep duration for alt code
+#
+SLEEP= 75000
 # Defines that are needed to compile
 #
-CDEFINE= -DS=75000
+CDEFINE= -DS=${SLEEP}
 
 # Include files that are needed to compile
 #
diff --git a/2006/sloane/README.md b/2006/sloane/README.md
index 18d10b22e..751278624 100644
--- a/2006/sloane/README.md
+++ b/2006/sloane/README.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ value used in `usleep()`. The default is `-DS=75000` but you can easily change
 it. To do so try:
 
 ```sh
-make CDEFINE="-DS=70000" clobber alt
+make clobber SLEEP=70000 clobber alt
 ./sloane.alt
 ```
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ If you wish to make it like the original, as if the below [Original
 code](#original-code) was being used, you can do:
 
 ```sh
-make CDEFINE="-DS=0" clobber alt
+make SLEEP=0 clobber alt
 ./sloane.alt
 ```