diff --git a/mode/c.py b/mode/c.py
index 40fdd10..8b171a4 100644
--- a/mode/c.py
+++ b/mode/c.py
@@ -139,26 +139,24 @@ class CCheckSyntax(Exec):
     show_success = False
     args = []
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
+        cmd='C_INCLUDE_PATH=. %s' % w.application.config['c.syntax-cmd']
         if w.application.config['c.syntax-rel-dir']:
-            d = os.path.dirname(w.buffer.path)
-            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.syntax-cmd'],
-                       cmdname='c-check-syntax', cmddir=d)
+            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, cmd, cmdname='c-check-syntax',
+                       cmddir=os.path.dirname(w.buffer.path))
         else:
-            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.syntax-cmd'],
-                       cmdname='c-check-syntax')
+            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, cmd, cmdname='c-check-syntax')
 
 class CMake(Exec):
     '''Build this C program (using the mode's make cmd)'''
     show_success = False
     args = []
     def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
+        cmd = w.application.config['c.make-cmd'],
         if w.application.config['c.make-rel-dir']:
-            d = os.path.dirname(w.buffer.path)            
-            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.make-cmd'],
-                       cmdname='c-make', cmddir=d)
+            d = os.path.dirname(w.buffer.path)
+            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, cmd, cmdname='c-make', cmddir=d)
         else:
-            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, w.application.config['c.make-cmd'],
-                       cmdname='c-make')
+            self._doit(w, w.buffer.path, cmd, cmdname='c-make')
 
 class C(Fundamental):
     name        = 'C'