diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2e4e6763d7a8..b9d3ffeda63f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ MAKEFAIL=cat
 
 universe_prologue:  upgrade_checks
 universe: universe_prologue
-universe_prologue:
+universe_prologue: .PHONY
 	@echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
 	@echo ">>> make universe started on ${STARTTIME}"
 	@echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ universe_kernconf_${TARGET}_${kernel}: .MAKE
 	    "check _.${TARGET}.${kernel} for details"| ${MAKEFAIL}))
 .endfor
 universe: universe_epilogue
-universe_epilogue:
+universe_epilogue: .PHONY
 	@echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
 	@echo ">>> make universe completed on `LC_ALL=C date`"
 	@echo "                      (started ${STARTTIME})"
diff --git a/Makefile.inc1 b/Makefile.inc1
index 27c8808e4499..4c60536dc413 100644
--- a/Makefile.inc1
+++ b/Makefile.inc1
@@ -649,12 +649,12 @@ WMAKE_TGTS+=	build${libcompat}
 buildworld: buildworld_prologue ${WMAKE_TGTS} buildworld_epilogue
 .ORDER: buildworld_prologue ${WMAKE_TGTS} buildworld_epilogue
 
-buildworld_prologue:
+buildworld_prologue: .PHONY
 	@echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
 	@echo ">>> World build started on `LC_ALL=C date`"
 	@echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
 
-buildworld_epilogue:
+buildworld_epilogue: .PHONY
 	@echo
 	@echo "--------------------------------------------------------------"
 	@echo ">>> World build completed on `LC_ALL=C date`"