diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 57b21d16c8c..1d44e50cf94 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -114,7 +114,9 @@ Makefile: $(BUILD_BACKEND_FILES)
 	@$(TOUCH) $@
 
 define build_backend_rule
-$(1): $$(shell cat $(1).in)
+$(1)_files := $$(shell cat $(1).in)
+$(1): $$($(1)_files)
+$$($(1)_files):
 
 endef
 $(foreach file,$(BUILD_BACKEND_FILES),$(eval $(call build_backend_rule,$(file))))