diff --git a/examples/make-deploy/Dockerfile b/examples/make-deploy/Dockerfile
index fc4df81f..1cc71656 100644
--- a/examples/make-deploy/Dockerfile
+++ b/examples/make-deploy/Dockerfile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
 # Pick your favorite docker-stacks image
-FROM jupyter/minimal-notebook:latest
+FROM jupyter/minimal-notebook:2d125a7161b5
 
 USER jovyan
 
diff --git a/examples/make-deploy/README.md b/examples/make-deploy/README.md
index a234f56f..c9d0462e 100644
--- a/examples/make-deploy/README.md
+++ b/examples/make-deploy/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ This folder contains a Makefile and a set of supporting files demonstrating how
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-* make 3.81+
+* make 3.81+ 
+    * Ubuntu users: Be aware of [make 3.81 defect 483086](https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/make-dfsg/+bug/483086) which exists in 14.04 LTS but is fixed in 15.04+
 * docker-machine 0.5.0+
 * docker 1.9.0+
 
@@ -109,4 +110,4 @@ Yes, sorry Windows users. It got the job done for a simple example. We can certa
 
 ### Are there any other options?
 
-Yes indeed. `cat Makefile` and enjoy.
+Yes indeed. `cat` the Makefiles and look at the target parameters.
diff --git a/examples/make-deploy/virtualbox.makefile b/examples/make-deploy/virtualbox.makefile
index 66f93dec..73d6e44c 100644
--- a/examples/make-deploy/virtualbox.makefile
+++ b/examples/make-deploy/virtualbox.makefile
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # Copyright (c) Jupyter Development Team.
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
-virtualbox-vm: VIRTUALBOX_CPU_COUNT?=4
-virtualbox-vm: VIRTUALBOX_DISK_SIZE?=100000
-virtualbox-vm: VIRTUALBOX_MEMORY_SIZE?=4096
+virtualbox-vm: export VIRTUALBOX_CPU_COUNT?=4
+virtualbox-vm: export VIRTUALBOX_DISK_SIZE?=100000
+virtualbox-vm: export VIRTUALBOX_MEMORY_SIZE?=4096
 virtualbox-vm: check
 	@test -n "$(NAME)" || \
 		(echo "ERROR: NAME not defined (make help)"; exit 1)