diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4615a44f6a..db53a4cf33 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -46,11 +46,14 @@ tests: lib mbedtls_test
 mbedtls_test:
 	$(MAKE) -C tests mbedtls_test
 
-library/%:
+.PHONY: FORCE
+FORCE:
+
+library/%: FORCE
 	$(MAKE) -C library $*
-programs/%:
+programs/%: FORCE
 	$(MAKE) -C programs $*
-tests/%:
+tests/%: FORCE
 	$(MAKE) -C tests $*
 
 .PHONY: generated_files