diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 58b2ea6bf..bae386310 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ recompile: init.el
 compile: init.el clean
 	@$(EMACS) -f doom/compile
 
-compile-lite: init.el clean
-	@$(EMACS) -f doom/compile-lite
+core: init.el clean
+	@$(EMACS) -f doom/compile -- init.el core/{,autoload/}*.el
 
 clean:
 	@$(EMACS) -f doom/clean-compiled
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b94a31966..2b2c67fec 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ it. DOOM is designed to benefit from this. It will boost startup times and make
 Emacs feel a bit snappier in general.
 
 ```bash
-make compile       # may take a while
+make compile  # may take a while
 # or
-make compile-lite  # faster alternative; only compiles core files
+make core     # faster alternative; only compiles init.el & core files
 
 # If you byte-compile, changes to the config won't take effect until you
 # recompile or delete the byte-compiled files with: