diff --git a/core/ninja.mk b/core/ninja.mk
index 30146d222..b865a7975 100644
--- a/core/ninja.mk
+++ b/core/ninja.mk
@@ -140,10 +140,11 @@ NINJA_ARGS += $(NINJA_EXTRA_ARGS)
 
 COMBINED_BUILD_NINJA := $(OUT_DIR)/combined$(KATI_NINJA_SUFFIX).ninja
 
-$(COMBINED_BUILD_NINJA): $(KATI_BUILD_NINJA)
+$(COMBINED_BUILD_NINJA): $(KATI_BUILD_NINJA) FORCE
 	$(hide) echo "builddir = $(OUT_DIR)" > $(COMBINED_BUILD_NINJA)
 	$(hide) echo "include $(KATI_BUILD_NINJA)" >> $(COMBINED_BUILD_NINJA)
 	$(hide) echo "include $(SOONG_BUILD_NINJA)" >> $(COMBINED_BUILD_NINJA)
+	$(hide) echo "build $(COMBINED_BUILD_NINJA): phony $(SOONG_BUILD_NINJA)" >> $(COMBINED_BUILD_NINJA)
 
 $(sort $(DEFAULT_GOAL) $(ANDROID_GOALS)) : ninja_wrapper
 	@#empty