diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index b1290c8..d96fd96 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ LIBS = -lcrucible -lpthread
 LDFLAGS = -L../lib -Wl,-rpath=$(shell realpath ../lib)
 
 depends.mk: Makefile *.cc
-	echo "const char *BEES_VERSION = \"$(shell git describe --always --dirty || echo UNKNOWN)\";" > bees-version.new.c
-	mv -f bees-version.new.c bees-version.c
 	for x in *.cc; do $(CXX) $(CXXFLAGS) -M "$$x"; done > depends.mk.new
 	mv -fv depends.mk.new depends.mk
 
+bees-version.c: Makefile *.cc *.h
+	echo "const char *BEES_VERSION = \"$(shell git describe --always --dirty || echo UNKNOWN)\";" > bees-version.new.c
+	mv -f bees-version.new.c bees-version.c
+
 -include depends.mk
 
 %.o: %.cc %.h