diff --git a/applets/Kbuild b/applets/Kbuild
index 1d4a96cdc..4afab88ce 100644
--- a/applets/Kbuild
+++ b/applets/Kbuild
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ obj-y	+= applets.o
 
 # Generated file needs additional love
 
+applets/usage:     .config
 applets/applets.o: .config include/usage_compressed.h
 
 hostprogs-y += usage