diff --git a/Source/cmElseCommand.h b/Source/cmElseCommand.h
index b418b7e3c..ba97d1fb8 100644
--- a/Source/cmElseCommand.h
+++ b/Source/cmElseCommand.h
@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@ public:
    */
   virtual bool Invoke(std::vector<std::string>& args);
 
+  /**
+   * This determines if the command gets propagated down
+   * to makefiles located in subdirectories.
+   */
+  virtual bool IsInherited() {return true;}
+
   /**
    * The name of the command as specified in CMakeList.txt.
    */
diff --git a/Source/cmEndIfCommand.h b/Source/cmEndIfCommand.h
index ad399c73e..c19aac1a4 100644
--- a/Source/cmEndIfCommand.h
+++ b/Source/cmEndIfCommand.h
@@ -40,6 +40,12 @@ public:
    */
   virtual bool Invoke(std::vector<std::string>& args);
 
+  /**
+   * This determines if the command gets propagated down
+   * to makefiles located in subdirectories.
+   */
+  virtual bool IsInherited() {return true;}
+
   /**
    * The name of the command as specified in CMakeList.txt.
    */
diff --git a/Source/cmIfCommand.h b/Source/cmIfCommand.h
index 1c9bef3ef..eff940aea 100644
--- a/Source/cmIfCommand.h
+++ b/Source/cmIfCommand.h
@@ -71,6 +71,12 @@ public:
     return "start an if block";
     }
   
+  /**
+   * This determines if the command gets propagated down
+   * to makefiles located in subdirectories.
+   */
+  virtual bool IsInherited() {return true;}
+
   /**
    * More documentation.
    */