diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a9f9b689f0..2777284b0f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2925,6 +2925,7 @@ hdr-check: $(HCO)
 style:
 	git clang-format --style file --diff --extensions c,h
 
+.PHONY: check
 check: config-list.h command-list.h
 	@if sparse; \
 	then \