diff --git a/common.mk b/common.mk
index b0f8f74dde..dee73c69e7 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/common.mk
@@ -554,6 +554,10 @@ $(arch)-fake.rb: $(srcdir)/template/fake.rb.in $(srcdir)/tool/generic_erb.rb ver
 	@$(BOOTSTRAPRUBY) $(srcdir)/tool/generic_erb.rb -c -o $@ $(srcdir)/template/fake.rb.in \
 		i=version.i srcdir="$(srcdir)" BASERUBY="$(BASERUBY)"
 
+# .i really doesn't depend on .o, just ensure newer than headers which
+# version.o depends on.
+version.i: version.$(OBJEXT)
+
 btest: $(TEST_RUNNABLE)-btest
 no-btest: PHONY
 yes-btest: fake miniruby$(EXEEXT) PHONY