diff --git a/ArduCopter/Makefile b/ArduCopter/Makefile
index 18ab179cc1..754ecf0215 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/Makefile
+++ b/ArduCopter/Makefile
@@ -27,5 +27,9 @@ apm2beta:
 mavlink10:
 	make -f Makefile EXTRAFLAGS="-DMAVLINK10"
 
+sitl:
+	make -f ../libraries/Desktop/Makefile.desktop
+
 etags:
 	cd .. && etags -f ArduCopter/TAGS --langmap=C++:.pde.cpp.h $$(git ls-files ArduCopter libraries)
+
diff --git a/ArduPlane/Makefile b/ArduPlane/Makefile
index 8a26a019ef..84b05b1e04 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/Makefile
+++ b/ArduPlane/Makefile
@@ -27,5 +27,9 @@ apm2beta:
 mavlink10:
 	make -f Makefile EXTRAFLAGS="-DMAVLINK10"
 
+sitl:
+	make -f ../libraries/Desktop/Makefile.desktop
+
 etags:
 	cd .. && etags -f ArduPlane/TAGS --langmap=C++:.pde.cpp.h $$(git ls-files ArduPlane libraries)
+