diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4e03ab6..5709cb5 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ all: $(EXEC)
 $(OBJ_DIR):
 	@mkdir -v $@
 
-$(OBJ_DIR)/%.$(OBJ_EXT): $(SRC_DIR)/%.cpp $(SRC_DIR)/%.hpp | $(OBJ_DIR)
+$(OBJ_DIR)/%.$(OBJ_EXT): $(SRC_DIR)/%.cpp $(SRC_DIR)/%.hpp | $(OBJ_DIR) check-cc-works
 	@echo Compiling $<
 	@$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -c $< -o $@
 
-$(EXEC): $(OBJ)
+$(EXEC): $(OBJ) | check-cc-works
 	@echo Linking objects files to $@
 	@$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $^ -o $@
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ profile: start | check-gprof-works check-gprof2dot-works
 	@gprof $(EXEC) gmon.out | gprof2dot | dot -Tpng -o output.png
 
 debug: $(EXEC) | check-gdb-works
-	@gdb -q -tui $(EXEC) -x copies
+	@gdb -q -tui $(EXEC)
 
 check: $(EXEC) | check-valgrind-works
 	@valgrind -q -s --leak-check=full --show-leak-kinds=all $(EXEC)
@@ -53,6 +53,10 @@ mrproper: clean
 .PHONY: check-env
 check-env: check-gprof2dot-works check-gprof-works check-gdb-works check-valgrind-works check-r2-works
 
+.PHONY: check-cc-works
+check-cc-works:
+	@${CC} --help >/dev/null 2>&1 || (echo 'Please install a valid CC compiler.' && exit 1)
+
 .PHONY: check-gprof2dot-works
 check-gprof2dot-works:
 	@gprof2dot --help >/dev/null 2>&1 || (echo 'Please install gprof2dot.' && exit 1)