diff --git a/common.mk b/common.mk
index 90d507806a..5f016d6fc3 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/common.mk
@@ -1213,7 +1213,9 @@ $(BUILTIN_RB_INCS): $(top_srcdir)/tool/mk_builtin_loader.rb
 
 $(srcdir)/revision.h: $(REVISION_H)
 
-revision.tmp:: $(srcdir)/version.h $(tooldir)/file2lastrev.rb $(REVISION_FORCE)
+revision.$(HAVE_BASERUBY:no=tmp)::
+	$(Q) $(NULLCMD) > $@
+revision.$(HAVE_BASERUBY:yes=tmp):: $(srcdir)/version.h $(tooldir)/file2lastrev.rb $(REVISION_FORCE)
 	$(Q) $(BASERUBY) $(tooldir)/file2lastrev.rb -q --revision.h --srcdir="$(srcdir)" > $@
 
 $(REVISION_H): revision.tmp