diff --git a/modules/modperl/Makefile.inc b/modules/modperl/Makefile.inc
index 2e21991f..152dd0fa 100644
--- a/modules/modperl/Makefile.inc
+++ b/modules/modperl/Makefile.inc
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ ifneq "$(SWIG)" ""
 include $(srcdir)/modperl/Makefile.gen
 endif
 
+modperl.o: modperl/functions.cpp modperl/swigpyrun.h
+
 modperl_install: install_datadir modperl_all
 	for i in $(wildcard $(srcdir)/*.pm); do \
 		$(INSTALL_DATA) $$i $(DESTDIR)$(MODDIR); \