diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 00f753f19e..62fdd7a93d 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -94,6 +94,11 @@ debian/.stamp-bootstrap:
 	(cd debian && ./bootstrap.sh)
 	touch $@
 
+build-depends: debian/.stamp-build-depends
+debian/.stamp-build-depends:
+	./debian/util.sh install-build-depends
+	touch $@
+
 binary-basetest:
 	@$(call show_vars)
 	echo "applications/mod_commands" > debian/modules.conf
diff --git a/debian/util.sh b/debian/util.sh
index d5c9b23dbb..e8dc26448f 100755
--- a/debian/util.sh
+++ b/debian/util.sh
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ install_build_depends () {
     err "Can't find apt-get or aptitude; are you running on debian?"
   fi
   $apt install -y $(list_build_depends)
+  touch $ddir/.stamp-build-depends
 }
 
 cmd="$1"