Use $(MAKE) for recursive calls, don't directly use $(CT_NG).
Pass on the V variable on the $(MAKE) command lines.

/trunk/steps.mk | 6 3 3 0 +++---
/trunk/ct-ng.in | 2 1 1 0 +-
2 files changed, 4 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

 #!/bin/sh

 # Needed for systems without gettext

 $* -xc -o /dev/null - > /dev/null 2>&1 << EOF

 #include <libintl.h>

 int main()

 {

 	gettext("");

 	return 0;

 }

 EOF

 if [ ! "$?" -eq "0"  ]; then

 	echo -DKBUILD_NO_NLS;

 fi