diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index ee061a443..f4d358fa7 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ Basic usage:
     'scons samples' - Compile the C++ and Fortran samples.
 
     'scons msi' - Build a Windows installer (.msi) for Cantera.
+
+    'scons sphinx' - Build the Sphinx documentation
+
+    'scons doxygen' - Build the Doxygen documentation
 """
 
 from buildutils import *
@@ -34,7 +38,7 @@ if not COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     sys.exit(0)
 
 valid_commands = ('build','clean','install','uninstall',
-                  'help','msi','samples')
+                  'help','msi','samples','sphinx','doxygen')
 
 for command in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     if command not in valid_commands and not command.startswith('test'):
@@ -586,7 +590,6 @@ opts.AddVariables(*config_options)
 opts.Update(env)
 opts.Save('cantera.conf', env)
 
-
 if 'help' in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
     ### Print help about configuration options and exit.
     print """
@@ -614,6 +617,11 @@ running 'scons build'. The format of this file is:
         print '\n'.join(formatOption(env, opt))
     sys.exit(0)
 
+if 'doxygen' in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
+    env['doxygen_docs'] = True
+if 'sphinx' in COMMAND_LINE_TARGETS:
+    env['sphinx_docs'] = True
+
 valid_arguments = (set(opt[0] for opt in windows_compiler_options) |
                    set(opt[0] for opt in compiler_options) |
                    set(opt[0] for opt in config_options))
diff --git a/doc/SConscript b/doc/SConscript
index 8e433d840..141aeef55 100644
--- a/doc/SConscript
+++ b/doc/SConscript
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ if localenv['doxygen_docs']:
     if localenv['graphvizdir']:
         localenv.Append(PATH=localenv['graphvizdir'])
 
-    build(localenv.Command('#build/docs/doxygen/html/index.html',
-                           'doxygen/Doxyfile', 'doxygen $SOURCE'))
+    docs = build(localenv.Command('#build/docs/doxygen/html/index.html',
+                                  'doxygen/Doxyfile', 'doxygen $SOURCE'))
+    env.Alias('doxygen', docs)
     install(pjoin('$inst_docdir', 'doxygen/html'),
             mglob(localenv, '#/build/docs/doxygen/html', 'html', 'svg', 'css', 'png'))
 
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ if localenv['sphinx_docs']:
     sphinxdocs = build(localenv.Command('${SPHINXBUILD}/html/index.html',
         'sphinx/conf.py',
         '${sphinx_cmd} -b html -d ${SPHINXBUILD}/doctrees ${SPHINXSRC} ${SPHINXBUILD}/html'))
+    env.Alias('sphinx', sphinxdocs)
 
     # Python examples: Create individual documentation pages with the source
     # for each example