diff --git a/minimal/do b/minimal/do
index fbf5725..901e4f3 100755
--- a/minimal/do
+++ b/minimal/do
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export REDO=$(cd "${dir:-.}" && echo "$PWD/$base")
 DO_TOP=
 if [ -z "$DO_BUILT" ]; then
 	DO_TOP=1
+	[ -n "$*" ] || set all  # only toplevel redo has a default target
 	export DO_BUILT=$PWD/.do_built
 	: >>"$DO_BUILT"
 	echo "Removing previously built files..." >&2
@@ -139,11 +140,7 @@ redo()
 
 
 set -e
-if [ -n "$*" ]; then
-	redo "$@"
-else
-	redo all
-fi
+redo "$@"
 
 if [ -n "$DO_TOP" ]; then
 	echo "Removing stamp files..." >&2
diff --git a/t/blank/blank.do b/t/blank/blank.do
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36ca2fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/blank/blank.do
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+redo-ifchange
+
diff --git a/t/test.do b/t/test.do
index 41c0acc..870d73d 100644
--- a/t/test.do
+++ b/t/test.do
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ redo nonshelltest shelltest \
 	deltest deltest2 test.args test2.args passfailtest chdirtest \
 	curse/test deps/test "space dir/test" modetest makedir2 \
 	silencetest touchtest stamp/test alwaystest ifcreate-test \
-	unicode
+	unicode blank/blank