M-x compile vs. background jobs

[Dan Jacobson]

Like crappola man,
$ cat Makefile
a:
        gv file.pdf   #or use xpdf
b:
        gv file.pdf & #or use xpdf
In M-x compile, only a works. In *shell*, both work.
Wait. This sometimes works:
c:
        nohup gv file.pdf &
This always works:
d:
        nohup gv file.pdf & sleep 1
Anyways, hope the child killer is fixed or at least documented.
I don't see nohup mentioned in M-x compile's Info page.
emacs-version="21.3.1". I recall we mentioned this before.