diff --git a/autoload/ale/c.vim b/autoload/ale/c.vim
index 591a0474..2509db99 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/c.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/c.vim
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 " Author: gagbo <gagbobada@gmail.com>, w0rp <devw0rp@gmail.com>, roel0 <postelmansroel@gmail.com>
 " Description: Functions for integrating with C-family linters.
 
-call ale#Set('c_parse_makefile', 1)
+call ale#Set('c_parse_makefile', 0)
 call ale#Set('c_parse_compile_commands', 1)
 let s:sep = has('win32') ? '\' : '/'
 
diff --git a/doc/ale-c.txt b/doc/ale-c.txt
index 53c141b3..fc0d941a 100644
--- a/doc/ale-c.txt
+++ b/doc/ale-c.txt
@@ -49,12 +49,18 @@ g:ale_c_parse_compile_commands                 *g:ale_c_parse_compile_commands*
 g:ale_c_parse_makefile                                 *g:ale_c_parse_makefile*
                                                        *b:ale_c_parse_makefile*
   Type: |Number|
-  Default: `1`
+  Default: `0`
 
   If set to `1`, ALE will run `make -n` to automatically determine flags to
   set for C or C++ compilers. This can make it easier to determine the correct
   build flags to use for different files.
 
+  WARNING: Running `make -n` automatically can execute arbitrary code, even
+  though it's supposed to be a dry run, so enable this option with care. You
+  might prefer to use the buffer-local version of the option instead with
+  |g:ale_pattern_options|, or you own code for checking which project you're
+  in.
+
   You might want to disable this option if `make -n` takes too long to run for
   projects you work on.