diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e8919be60..e7bed373b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ apidocs:
 
 test: $(TEST_RUN)
 
-sparse:
+sparse: $(CONFIG_H)
 	@for i in $(SRC_C); do sparse $$i -DSPARSE_IS_RUNNING $(SPARSE_FLAGS) $(BASIC_CFLAGS) $(CFLAGS); done
 
 install-headers: $(PUBLIC_HEADERS)