diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 6319432da6..cabff9b9d2 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -265,9 +265,6 @@ $(ruby_pc):
 ruby-runner.h: template/ruby-runner.h.in
 		@./config.status --file=$@:$(srcdir)/template/$(@F).in
 
-bin/$(PROGRAM): ruby-runner.c ruby-runner.h
-	$(Q) $(PURIFY) $(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS) -DRUBY_INSTALL_NAME=$(@F) $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBS) $(OUTFLAG)$@ $<
-
 $(RBCONFIG): $(PREP)
 
 rbconfig.rb: $(RBCONFIG)
diff --git a/common.mk b/common.mk
index 9d5448fc49..c7d044ca93 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/common.mk
@@ -777,6 +777,13 @@ $(PLATFORM_D):
 	$(Q) $(MAKEDIRS) $(PLATFORM_DIR) $(@D)
 	@exit > $@
 
+bin/$(PROGRAM): ruby-runner.c ruby-runner.h $(TIMESTAMPDIR)/.bin.time
+	$(Q) $(PURIFY) $(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS) -DRUBY_INSTALL_NAME=$(@F) $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBS) $(OUTFLAG)$@ $<
+
+$(TIMESTAMPDIR)/.bin.time:
+	$(Q) $(MAKEDIRS) bin $(@D)
+	$(Q) exit > $@
+
 $(BUILTIN_ENCOBJS) $(BUILTIN_TRANSOBJS): $(ENC_TRANS_D)
 
 $(ENC_TRANS_D):