diff --git a/client/Makefile b/client/Makefile
index 85ace7fb0..2178f6686 100644
--- a/client/Makefile
+++ b/client/Makefile
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ src/pm3_pywrap.c: pm3.i
 .PHONY: all clean install uninstall tarbin .FORCE
 
 # version_pm3.c should be remade on every compilation
-src/version_pm3.c: .FORCE default_version_pm3.c
+src/version_pm3.c: default_version_pm3.c .FORCE
 	$(info [=] GEN $@)
 	$(Q)$(SH) ../tools/mkversion.sh > $@ || $(CP) $< $@