diff --git a/common.mk b/common.mk
index eab8f9fd09..a4559a7087 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/common.mk
@@ -1083,7 +1083,7 @@ preludes: {$(VPATH)}miniprelude.c
 preludes: {$(srcdir)}golf_prelude.c
 
 $(srcdir)/revision.h:
-	@exit > $@
+	$(Q)$(gnumake:yes=#) exit > $@
 
 $(REVISION_H): $(srcdir)/version.h $(srcdir)/tool/file2lastrev.rb $(REVISION_FORCE)
 	-$(Q) $(BASERUBY) $(srcdir)/tool/file2lastrev.rb -q --revision.h "$(srcdir)" > revision.tmp
diff --git a/defs/gmake.mk b/defs/gmake.mk
index a4acb679f9..49934c5f01 100644
--- a/defs/gmake.mk
+++ b/defs/gmake.mk
@@ -185,6 +185,10 @@ $(MJIT_MIN_HEADER): $(mjit_min_headers) $(PREP)
 
 endif
 
+# GNU make treat the target as unmodified when its dependents get
+# updated but it is not updated, while others may not.
+$(srcdir)/revision.h: $(REVISION_H)
+
 # Query on the generated rdoc
 #
 #   $ make rdoc:Integer#+