diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2320de592e..cf0ccdfa8f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2138,7 +2138,7 @@ LOCALIZED_SH += t/t0200/test.sh
 LOCALIZED_PERL += t/t0200/test.perl
 endif
 
-po/git.pot: $(LOCALIZED_C)
+po/git.pot: $(GENERATED_H) FORCE
 	$(QUIET_XGETTEXT)$(XGETTEXT) -o$@+ $(XGETTEXT_FLAGS_C) $(LOCALIZED_C)
 	$(QUIET_XGETTEXT)$(XGETTEXT) -o$@+ --join-existing $(XGETTEXT_FLAGS_SH) \
 		$(LOCALIZED_SH)