diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0f6540c6d8..392a5c4bf1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -748,6 +748,8 @@ git-merge-subtree$X: git-merge-recursive$X
 $(BUILT_INS): git$X
 	$(QUIET_BUILT_IN)rm -f $@ && ln git$X $@
 
+common-cmds.h: ./generate-cmdlist.sh
+
 common-cmds.h: $(wildcard Documentation/git-*.txt)
 	$(QUIET_GEN)./generate-cmdlist.sh > $@+ && mv $@+ $@