diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index e22d343e9..5db92205e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: configure
       run: DUMP_CONFIG_LOG=1 ./configure
     - name: make
-      run: make
+      run: make -j2
 
   build-libretro:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ jobs:
       with:
         submodules: true
     - name: make
-      run: LDFLAGS=-Wl,--no-undefined make -f Makefile.libretro
+      run: LDFLAGS=-Wl,--no-undefined make -j2 -f Makefile.libretro
 
 
   build-gp2x:
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         git config --global --add safe.directory $PWD
         ver=$(cut -d'"' -f2 platform/common/version.h)-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
-        CROSS_COMPILE=arm-none-eabi- ./configure --platform=gp2x
-        make PLATFORM_MP3=0
+        ./configure --platform=gp2x
+        make -j2 PLATFORM_MP3=0
         make -C platform/gp2x rel VER=$ver
         mv PicoDrive_$ver.zip PicoDrive-gph_$ver.zip
     - name: artifacts
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ jobs:
         git config --global --add safe.directory $PWD
         ver=$(cut -d'"' -f2 platform/common/version.h)-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
         ./configure --platform=pandora
-        make
+        make -j2
         mv PicoDrive PicoDrive-pandora
         ${CROSS_COMPILE}strip PicoDrive-pandora
     - name: artifacts
@@ -109,10 +109,11 @@ jobs:
         submodules: true
     - name: build
       run: |
+        export CROSS_COMPILE=psp-
         git config --global --add safe.directory $PWD
         ver=$(cut -d'"' -f2 platform/common/version.h)-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
-        CROSS_COMPILE=psp- ./configure --platform=psp
-        CROSS_COMPILE=psp- make
+        ./configure --platform=psp
+        make -j2
         make -C platform/psp rel VER=$ver
     - name: artifacts
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
@@ -141,8 +142,8 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         git config --global --add safe.directory $PWD
         ver=$(cut -d'"' -f2 platform/common/version.h)-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
-        CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- ./configure --platform=dingux
-        CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- make
+        ./configure --platform=dingux
+        make -j2
         mv PicoDrive-dge.zip PicoDrive-dge-$ver.zip
     - name: artifacts
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
@@ -168,8 +169,8 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         git config --global --add safe.directory $PWD
         ver=$(cut -d'"' -f2 platform/common/version.h)-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
-        CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- ./configure --platform=gcw0
-        CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- make
+        ./configure --platform=gcw0
+        make -j2
         mv PicoDrive.opk PicoDrive-gcw0-$ver.opk
     - name: artifacts
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
@@ -195,8 +196,8 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         git config --global --add safe.directory $PWD
         ver=$(cut -d'"' -f2 platform/common/version.h)-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
-        CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- ./configure --platform=opendingux
-        CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- make
+        ./configure --platform=opendingux
+        make -j2
         mv PicoDrive.opk PicoDrive-opendingux-$ver.opk
     - name: artifacts
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
@@ -222,10 +223,11 @@ jobs:
         submodules: true
     - name: build
       run: |
+        export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-buildroot-linux-musleabi-
         git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive
         ver=$(cut -d'"' -f2 platform/common/version.h)-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
-        CROSS_COMPILE=arm-buildroot-linux-musleabi- ./configure --platform=miyoo
-        CROSS_COMPILE=arm-buildroot-linux-musleabi- make
+        ./configure --platform=miyoo
+        make -j2
         mv PicoDrive.zip PicoDrive-miyoo-$ver.zip
     - name: artifacts
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
@@ -251,8 +253,8 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         git config --global --add safe.directory $PWD
         ver=$(cut -d'"' -f2 platform/common/version.h)-$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
-        CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-RetroFW-linux-uclibc- ./configure --platform=retrofw
-        CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-RetroFW-linux-uclibc- make
+        ./configure --platform=retrofw
+        make -j2
         mv PicoDrive.opk PicoDrive-retrofw-$ver.opk
     - name: artifacts
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
diff --git a/tools/release.sh b/tools/release.sh
index 57487ac62..0e071eaaa 100755
--- a/tools/release.sh
+++ b/tools/release.sh
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ shift; plat=" $* "
 # GPH devices: gp2x, wiz, caanoo, with ubuntu arm gcc 4.7
 docker pull ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-gp2x
 echo "	git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=arm-none-eabi- ./configure --platform=gp2x &&\
-	make clean all &&\
+	./configure --platform=gp2x &&\
+	make clean && make -j2 all &&\
 	make -C platform/gp2x rel VER=$rel "\
   | docker run -i -v$PWD:/home/picodrive -w/home/picodrive --rm ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-gp2x sh &&
 mv PicoDrive_$rel.zip release-$rel/PicoDrive-gph_$rel.zip
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ mv PicoDrive_$rel.zip release-$rel/PicoDrive-gph_$rel.zip
 # NB works for legacy dingux and possibly opendingux before gcw0
 docker pull ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-dingux
 echo "	git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- ./configure --platform=dingux &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- make clean all "\
+	./configure --platform=dingux &&\
+	make clean && make -j2 all "\
   | docker run -i -v$PWD:/home/picodrive -w/home/picodrive --rm ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-dingux sh &&
 mv PicoDrive-dge.zip release-$rel/PicoDrive-dge_$rel.zip
 }
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ mv PicoDrive-dge.zip release-$rel/PicoDrive-dge_$rel.zip
 # retrofw: rs-97 and similar, JZ4760 (mips32r1 with fpu)
 docker pull ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-retrofw
 echo "	git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-RetroFW-linux-uclibc- ./configure --platform=retrofw &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-RetroFW-linux-uclibc- make clean all "\
+	./configure --platform=retrofw &&\
+	make clean && make -j2 all "\
   | docker run -i -v$PWD:/home/picodrive -w/home/picodrive --rm ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-retrofw sh &&
 mv PicoDrive.opk release-$rel/PicoDrive-retrofw_$rel.opk
 }
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ mv PicoDrive.opk release-$rel/PicoDrive-retrofw_$rel.opk
 # gcw0: JZ4770 (mips32r2 with fpu), swapped X/Y buttons
 docker pull ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-opendingux
 echo "	git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- ./configure --platform=gcw0 &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- make clean all "\
+	./configure --platform=gcw0 &&\
+	make clean && make -j2 all "\
   | docker run -i -v$PWD:/home/picodrive -w/home/picodrive --rm ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-opendingux sh &&
 mv PicoDrive.opk release-$rel/PicoDrive-gcw0_$rel.opk
 }
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ mv PicoDrive.opk release-$rel/PicoDrive-gcw0_$rel.opk
 # rg350, gkd350h etc: JZ4770 or newer
 docker pull ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-opendingux
 echo "	git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- ./configure --platform=opendingux &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=mipsel-linux- make clean all "\
+	./configure --platform=opendingux &&\
+	make clean && make -j2 all "\
   | docker run -i -v$PWD:/home/picodrive -w/home/picodrive --rm ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-opendingux sh &&
 mv PicoDrive.opk release-$rel/PicoDrive-opendingux_$rel.opk
 }
@@ -79,9 +79,10 @@ mv PicoDrive.opk release-$rel/PicoDrive-opendingux_$rel.opk
 [ -z "${plat##* miyoo *}" ] && {
 # miyoo: BittBoy >=v1, PocketGo, Powkiddy [QV]90/Q20 (Allwinner F1C100s, ARM926)
 docker pull miyoocfw/toolchain
-echo "	git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=arm-buildroot-linux-musleabi- ./configure --platform=miyoo &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=arm-buildroot-linux-musleabi- make clean all "\
+echo "	export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-buildroot-linux-musleabi- &&\
+	git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive &&\
+	./configure --platform=miyoo &&\
+	make clean && make -j2 all "\
   | docker run -i -v$PWD:/home/picodrive -w/home/picodrive --rm miyoocfw/toolchain sh &&
 mv PicoDrive.zip release-$rel/PicoDrive-miyoo_$rel.zip
 }
@@ -89,10 +90,10 @@ mv PicoDrive.zip release-$rel/PicoDrive-miyoo_$rel.zip
 [ -z "${plat##* psp *}" ] && {
 # psp (experimental), pspdev SDK toolchain
 docker pull --platform=linux/amd64 ghcr.io/pspdev/pspdev
-echo "	apk add git gcc g++ zip &&\
+echo "	apk add git gcc g++ zip && export CROSS_COMPILE=psp- &&\
 	git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=psp- ./configure --platform=psp &&\
-	CROSS_COMPILE=psp- make clean all &&\
+	./configure --platform=psp &&\
+	make clean && make -j2 all &&\
 	make -C platform/psp rel VER=$rel "\
   | docker run -i -v$PWD:/home/picodrive -w/home/picodrive --rm ghcr.io/pspdev/pspdev sh &&
 mv PicoDrive_psp_$rel.zip release-$rel/PicoDrive-psp_$rel.zip
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ mv PicoDrive_psp_$rel.zip release-$rel/PicoDrive-psp_$rel.zip
 docker pull ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-pandora
 echo "	git config --global --add safe.directory /home/picodrive &&\
 	./configure --platform=pandora &&\
-	make clean all &&\
+	make clean && make -j2 all &&\
 	\${CROSS_COMPILE}strip -o PicoDrive-pandora-$rel PicoDrive"\
   | docker run -i -v$PWD:/home/picodrive -w/home/picodrive --rm ghcr.io/irixxxx/toolchain-pandora sh &&
 mv PicoDrive-pandora-$rel release-$rel/