diff --git a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/backend/recursivemake.py b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/backend/recursivemake.py
index 2e146bf5a25..1ee71ff8ae6 100644
--- a/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/backend/recursivemake.py
+++ b/python/mozbuild/mozbuild/backend/recursivemake.py
@@ -664,7 +664,9 @@ class RecursiveMakeBackend(CommonBackend):
                     # the autogenerated one automatically.
                     self.backend_input_files.add(makefile_in)
 
-                    for skiplist in self._may_skip.values():
+                    for tier, skiplist in self._may_skip.items():
+                        if tier in ('compile', 'binaries'):
+                            continue
                         if bf.relobjdir in skiplist:
                             skiplist.remove(bf.relobjdir)
                 else:
@@ -679,8 +681,6 @@ class RecursiveMakeBackend(CommonBackend):
                 with self._write_file(makefile) as fh:
                     bf.environment.create_makefile(fh, stub=stub)
 
-        self._fill_root_mk()
-
         # Write out a master list of all IPDL source files.
         ipdl_dir = os.path.join(self.environment.topobjdir, 'ipc', 'ipdl')
         mk = mozmakeutil.Makefile()
@@ -711,6 +711,8 @@ class RecursiveMakeBackend(CommonBackend):
         with self._write_file(os.path.join(ipdl_dir, 'ipdlsrcs.mk')) as ipdls:
             mk.dump(ipdls, removal_guard=False)
 
+        self._may_skip['compile'] -= set(['ipc/ipdl'])
+
         # Write out master lists of WebIDL source files.
         bindings_dir = os.path.join(self.environment.topobjdir, 'dom', 'bindings')
 
@@ -744,6 +746,10 @@ class RecursiveMakeBackend(CommonBackend):
         with self._write_file(os.path.join(bindings_dir, 'webidlsrcs.mk')) as webidls:
             mk.dump(webidls, removal_guard=False)
 
+        self._may_skip['compile'] -= set(['dom/bindings', 'dom/bindings/test'])
+
+        self._fill_root_mk()
+
         # Write out a dependency file used to determine whether a config.status
         # re-run is needed.
         inputs = sorted(p.replace(os.sep, '/') for p in self.backend_input_files)
@@ -868,6 +874,10 @@ class RecursiveMakeBackend(CommonBackend):
             return
 
         affected_tiers = set(obj.affected_tiers)
+        # Until all SOURCES are really in moz.build, consider all directories
+        # building binaries to require a pass at compile, too.
+        if 'binaries' in affected_tiers:
+            affected_tiers.add('compile')
         if 'compile' in affected_tiers or 'binaries' in affected_tiers:
             affected_tiers.add('libs')
         if obj.is_tool_dir and 'libs' in affected_tiers: