diff --git a/config/Makefile.in b/config/Makefile.in
index 1702e223077..c08f2a76da4 100644
--- a/config/Makefile.in
+++ b/config/Makefile.in
@@ -45,7 +45,9 @@ ifndef JS_STANDALONE
 ifndef MOZ_PROFILE_USE
 # Generate a new buildid every time we "export" in config... that's only
 # supposed to be once per-build!
-export::
+export:: buildid
+
+buildid: FORCE
 ifdef MOZ_BUILD_DATE
 	printf '%s' $(MOZ_BUILD_DATE) > buildid
 else