diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 88fc83458a9eb5a9b06cd435d3be0be53ee0da36..90ea36f3d986a632c43d94b9da8a1a614bc1c990 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -298,7 +298,8 @@ prepare-target: $(GLUON_OPKG_KEY).pub
 $(target_prepared_stamp):
 	+$(GLUONMAKE_EARLY) prepare-target
 
-maybe-prepare-target: $(GLUON_OPKG_KEY).pub $(target_prepared_stamp)
+maybe-prepare-target: $(target_prepared_stamp)
+	+$(GLUONMAKE_EARLY) $(GLUON_OPKG_KEY).pub
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/.prepared: Makefile
 	@mkdir -p $$(dirname $@)