diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-makefiles.yml b/.github/workflows/check-makefiles.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..396393f383
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-makefiles.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+name: check makefiles
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - development
+      - main
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - development
+
+jobs:
+  check-ifdefs:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Setup Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.10'
+
+      - name: Cache pip
+        uses: actions/cache@v3
+        with:
+          # this path is specific to Ubuntu
+          path: ~/.cache/pip
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-pip-${{ hashFiles('**/requirements.txt') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            ${{ runner.os }}-pip-
+
+      - name: Run check-ifdefs
+        run: |
+          python .github/workflows/check_makefiles.py
+
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check_makefiles.py b/.github/workflows/check_makefiles.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d9e17baa47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/check_makefiles.py
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import re
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+correct_params = {
+    "DEBUG": "FALSE",
+    "USE_MPI": "TRUE",
+    "USE_OMP": "FALSE",
+    "COMP": "gnu",
+    "USE_CUDA": "FALSE",
+    "USE_HIP": "FALSE",
+    "PRECISION": "DOUBLE",
+    "PROFILE": "FALSE"}
+
+
+def find_source_files():
+    p = Path("./Exec")
+    files = list(p.glob(r"**/GNUmakefile"))
+    return files
+
+def check_makefile(makefile):
+
+    with open(makefile) as mf:
+        for _line in mf:
+            if idx := _line.find("#") >= 0:
+                line = _line[:idx]
+            else:
+                line = _line
+
+            for key in correct_params:
+                if key in line:
+                    try:
+                        k, v = re.split(":=|\?=|=", line)
+                    except ValueError:
+                        sys.exit(f"invalid line: {line}")
+
+                    if not v.strip() == correct_params[key]:
+                        sys.exit(f"invalid param {key} in {makefile}")
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+
+    for f in find_source_files():
+        check_makefile(f)
+
+
+
diff --git a/Exec/gravity_tests/uniform_cube/GNUmakefile b/Exec/gravity_tests/uniform_cube/GNUmakefile
index 4023488bac..dd54908a9d 100644
--- a/Exec/gravity_tests/uniform_cube/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/gravity_tests/uniform_cube/GNUmakefile
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ DEBUG       ?= FALSE
 
 DIM         ?= 3
 
-COMP	    ?= gcc
+COMP	    ?= gnu
 
 USE_MPI     ?= TRUE
 USE_OMP     ?= FALSE
diff --git a/Exec/gravity_tests/uniform_sphere/GNUmakefile b/Exec/gravity_tests/uniform_sphere/GNUmakefile
index 50dc156659..ae6e618624 100644
--- a/Exec/gravity_tests/uniform_sphere/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/gravity_tests/uniform_sphere/GNUmakefile
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ DEBUG       ?= FALSE
 
 DIM         ?= 3
 
-COMP	    ?= gcc
+COMP	    ?= gnu
 
 USE_MPI     ?= TRUE
 USE_OMP     ?= FALSE
diff --git a/Exec/mhd_tests/Alfven/GNUmakefile b/Exec/mhd_tests/Alfven/GNUmakefile
index d0420ce36b..18a723c41d 100644
--- a/Exec/mhd_tests/Alfven/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/mhd_tests/Alfven/GNUmakefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 PRECISION  = DOUBLE
 PROFILE    = FALSE
 
-DEBUG      = TRUE
+DEBUG      = FALSE
 
 DIM        = 3
 
diff --git a/Exec/mhd_tests/BrioWu/GNUmakefile b/Exec/mhd_tests/BrioWu/GNUmakefile
index d0420ce36b..18a723c41d 100644
--- a/Exec/mhd_tests/BrioWu/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/mhd_tests/BrioWu/GNUmakefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 PRECISION  = DOUBLE
 PROFILE    = FALSE
 
-DEBUG      = TRUE
+DEBUG      = FALSE
 
 DIM        = 3
 
diff --git a/Exec/mhd_tests/MagnetosonicWaves/GNUmakefile b/Exec/mhd_tests/MagnetosonicWaves/GNUmakefile
index d0420ce36b..18a723c41d 100644
--- a/Exec/mhd_tests/MagnetosonicWaves/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/mhd_tests/MagnetosonicWaves/GNUmakefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 PRECISION  = DOUBLE
 PROFILE    = FALSE
 
-DEBUG      = TRUE
+DEBUG      = FALSE
 
 DIM        = 3
 
diff --git a/Exec/mhd_tests/species/GNUmakefile b/Exec/mhd_tests/species/GNUmakefile
index d601c6bae0..69314fc30b 100644
--- a/Exec/mhd_tests/species/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/mhd_tests/species/GNUmakefile
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 PRECISION  = DOUBLE
 PROFILE    = FALSE
 
-DEBUG      = TRUE
+DEBUG      = FALSE
 
 DIM        = 3
 
diff --git a/Exec/scf_tests/single_star/GNUmakefile b/Exec/scf_tests/single_star/GNUmakefile
index 1fb3b047d5..b8bad88989 100644
--- a/Exec/scf_tests/single_star/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/scf_tests/single_star/GNUmakefile
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ DEBUG       ?= FALSE
 
 DIM         := 3
 
-COMP	    ?= gcc
+COMP	    ?= gnu
 
 USE_MPI     ?= TRUE
 USE_OMP     ?= FALSE
diff --git a/Exec/science/nova/GNUmakefile b/Exec/science/nova/GNUmakefile
index 6772310dd6..e2a49d9aca 100644
--- a/Exec/science/nova/GNUmakefile
+++ b/Exec/science/nova/GNUmakefile
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ COMP	         = gnu
 
 USE_MPI          = TRUE
 USE_OMP          = FALSE
-USE_CUDA         = TRUE
+USE_CUDA         = FALSE
 
 USE_REACT        = TRUE
 USE_DIFFUSION    = TRUE