diff --git a/common.mk b/common.mk
index 7b5ab6fbdd..3f40217ff3 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/common.mk
@@ -196,7 +196,8 @@ TESTOPTS      = $(RUBY_TESTOPTS)
 
 TESTRUN_SCRIPT = $(srcdir)/test.rb
 
-COMPILE_PRELUDE = $(tooldir)/generic_erb.rb $(srcdir)/template/prelude.c.tmpl
+COMPILE_PRELUDE = $(tooldir)/generic_erb.rb $(srcdir)/template/prelude.c.tmpl \
+	$(tooldir)/ruby_vm/helpers/c_escape.rb
 
 SHOWFLAGS = showflags