Use "order only constraints" for directories

There are now 104 calls to mkdirhier, down from 1201, when validating.

14 files changed, 49 insertions, 74 deletions

diff --git a/compiler/ghc.mk b/compiler/ghc.mk
index 70c95f3426..6f781925db 100644
--- a/compiler/ghc.mk
+++ b/compiler/ghc.mk
@@ -141,8 +141,7 @@ $(eval $(call clean-target,compiler,config_hs,$(compiler_CONFIG_HS)))
 
 PLATFORM_H = ghc_boot_platform.h
 
-compiler/stage1/$(PLATFORM_H) : mk/config.mk mk/project.mk
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+compiler/stage1/$(PLATFORM_H) : mk/config.mk mk/project.mk | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	"$(RM)" $(RM_OPTS) $@
 	@echo "Creating $@..."
 	@echo "#ifndef __PLATFORM_H__"  >$@
@@ -188,8 +187,7 @@ endif
 # For stage2 and above, the BUILD platform is the HOST of stage1, and
 # the HOST platform is the TARGET of stage1.  The TARGET remains the same
 # (stage1 is the cross-compiler, not stage2).
-compiler/stage2/$(PLATFORM_H) : mk/config.mk mk/project.mk
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+compiler/stage2/$(PLATFORM_H) : mk/config.mk mk/project.mk | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	"$(RM)" $(RM_OPTS) $@
 	@echo "Creating $@..."
 	@echo "#ifndef __PLATFORM_H__"  >$@
diff --git a/ghc.mk b/ghc.mk
index 9dba678daa..8f2737dd63 100644
--- a/ghc.mk
+++ b/ghc.mk
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@
 
 .PHONY: default all haddock
 
+# We need second expansion for the way we handle directories, so that
+#     | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
+# expands to the directoy of a rule that uses a % pattern.
+.SECONDEXPANSION:
+
 default : all
 
 # Catch make if it runs away into an infinite loop
@@ -398,6 +403,12 @@ rts/package.conf.inplace : libffi/package.conf.inplace
 endif
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Directories
+
+%/. : $(MKDIRHIER)
+	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $@
+
+# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Special magic for the ghc-prim package
 
 # We want the ghc-prim package to include the GHC.Prim module when it
@@ -417,8 +428,7 @@ endef
 
 PRIMOPS_TXT = $(GHC_COMPILER_DIR)/prelude/primops.txt
 
-libraries/ghc-prim/dist-install/build/GHC/PrimopWrappers.hs : $(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE) $(PRIMOPS_TXT)
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+libraries/ghc-prim/dist-install/build/GHC/PrimopWrappers.hs : $(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE) $(PRIMOPS_TXT) | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	"$(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE)" --make-haskell-wrappers <$(PRIMOPS_TXT) >$@
 
 libraries/ghc-prim/GHC/Prim.hs : $(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE) $(PRIMOPS_TXT)
@@ -702,13 +712,13 @@ libraries/ghc-prim/dist-install/doc/html/ghc-prim/ghc-prim.haddock: \
     libraries/ghc-prim/dist-install/build/autogen/GHC/PrimopWrappers.hs
 
 libraries/ghc-prim/dist-install/build/autogen/GHC/Prim.hs: \
-                            $(PRIMOPS_TXT) $(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE) $(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+                            $(PRIMOPS_TXT) $(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE) \
+                          | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	"$(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE)" --make-haskell-source < $< > $@
 
 libraries/ghc-prim/dist-install/build/autogen/GHC/PrimopWrappers.hs: \
-                            $(PRIMOPS_TXT) $(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE) $(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+                            $(PRIMOPS_TXT) $(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE) \
+                          | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	"$(GENPRIMOP_INPLACE)" --make-haskell-wrappers < $< > $@
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/rts/ghc.mk b/rts/ghc.mk
index 3a746a9972..aee28ba8e6 100644
--- a/rts/ghc.mk
+++ b/rts/ghc.mk
@@ -62,11 +62,9 @@ rts_AUTO_APPLY_CMM = rts/dist/build/AutoApply.cmm
 $(rts_AUTO_APPLY_CMM): $(GENAPPLY_INPLACE)
 	"$(GENAPPLY_INPLACE)" >$@
 
-rts/dist/build/sm/Evac_thr.c : rts/sm/Evac.c
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+rts/dist/build/sm/Evac_thr.c : rts/sm/Evac.c | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	cp $< $@
-rts/dist/build/sm/Scav_thr.c : rts/sm/Scav.c
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+rts/dist/build/sm/Scav_thr.c : rts/sm/Scav.c | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	cp $< $@
 
 rts_H_FILES = $(wildcard includes/*.h) $(wildcard rts/*.h)
diff --git a/rules/build-dependencies.mk b/rules/build-dependencies.mk
index 2ab503f1b6..68d45c82b6 100644
--- a/rules/build-dependencies.mk
+++ b/rules/build-dependencies.mk
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ endif
 
 ifneq "$$($1_$2_NO_BUILD_DEPS)" "YES"
 
-$$($1_$2_depfile) : $$(MKDIRHIER) $$(MKDEPENDC) $$($1_$2_HS_SRCS) $$($1_$2_HS_BOOT_SRCS) $$($1_$2_HC_MK_DEPEND_DEP) $$($1_$2_C_FILES) $$($1_$2_S_FILES)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $1/$2/build
+$$($1_$2_depfile) : $$(MKDEPENDC) $$($1_$2_HS_SRCS) $$($1_$2_HS_BOOT_SRCS) $$($1_$2_HC_MK_DEPEND_DEP) $$($1_$2_C_FILES) $$($1_$2_S_FILES) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(RM)" $$(RM_OPTS) $$@.tmp
 	touch $$@.tmp
 ifneq "$$($1_$2_C_SRCS)$$($1_$2_S_SRCS)" ""
diff --git a/rules/build-perl.mk b/rules/build-perl.mk
index 86f729fbb1..669f3d7be4 100644
--- a/rules/build-perl.mk
+++ b/rules/build-perl.mk
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ clean_$1 : clean_$1_$2
 # INPLACE_BIN etc. might be empty if we're cleaning
 ifeq "$(findstring clean,$(MAKECMDGOALS))" ""
 ifneq "$$(BINDIST)" "YES"
-$1/$2/$$($1_$2_PROG).prl: $1/$$($1_PERL_SRC) $$(UNLIT)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $1/$2
+$1/$2/$$($1_$2_PROG).prl: $1/$$($1_PERL_SRC) $$(UNLIT) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(UNLIT)" $$(UNLIT_OPTS) $$< $$@
 
 $1/$2/$$($1_$2_PROG): $1/$2/$$($1_$2_PROG).prl
@@ -48,8 +47,7 @@ $1/$2/$$($1_$2_PROG): $1/$2/$$($1_$2_PROG).prl
 	cat $$<                                            >> $$@
 	$$(EXECUTABLE_FILE) $$@
 
-$$($1_$2_INPLACE): $1/$2/$$($1_$2_PROG)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$$($1_$2_INPLACE): $1/$2/$$($1_$2_PROG) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(CP)" $$< $$@
 	$$(EXECUTABLE_FILE) $$@
 endif
diff --git a/rules/build-prog.mk b/rules/build-prog.mk
index b975f4956f..0a801afabf 100644
--- a/rules/build-prog.mk
+++ b/rules/build-prog.mk
@@ -96,12 +96,10 @@ $(call c-objs,$1,$2,v)
 $(call hs-objs,$1,$2,v)
 
 ifeq "$$(BootingFromHc)" "NO"
-$1/$2/build/tmp/$$($1_$2_PROG) : $$($1_$2_v_HS_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_C_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_S_OBJS) $$($1_$2_OTHER_OBJS)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/tmp/$$($1_$2_PROG) : $$($1_$2_v_HS_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_C_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_S_OBJS) $$($1_$2_OTHER_OBJS) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" -o $$@ $$($1_$2_v_ALL_HC_OPTS) $$(LD_OPTS) $$($1_$2_v_HS_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_C_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_S_OBJS) $$($1_$2_OTHER_OBJS)
 else
-$1/$2/build/tmp/$$($1_$2_PROG) : $$($1_$2_v_HS_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_C_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_S_OBJS) $$($1_$2_OTHER_OBJS)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/tmp/$$($1_$2_PROG) : $$($1_$2_v_HS_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_C_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_S_OBJS) $$($1_$2_OTHER_OBJS) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(CC)" -o $$@ $$($1_$2_v_ALL_CC_OPTS) $$(LD_OPTS) $$($1_$2_v_HS_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_C_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_S_OBJS) $$($1_$2_OTHER_OBJS) $$($1_$2_v_EXTRA_CC_OPTS)
 endif
 
@@ -136,8 +134,7 @@ $(call clean-target,$1,$2_inplace,$$($1_$2_INPLACE))
 
 # INPLACE_BIN might be empty if we're distcleaning
 ifeq "$(findstring clean,$(MAKECMDGOALS))" ""
-$$($1_$2_INPLACE) : $1/$2/build/tmp/$$($1_$2_PROG) $$(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$$($1_$2_INPLACE) : $1/$2/build/tmp/$$($1_$2_PROG) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(CP)" -p $$< $$@
 	touch $$@
 endif
diff --git a/rules/c-suffix-rules.mk b/rules/c-suffix-rules.mk
index 5b4cc6e914..cc7c219bb4 100644
--- a/rules/c-suffix-rules.mk
+++ b/rules/c-suffix-rules.mk
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@ define c-suffix-rules
 # UseGhcForCc is only relevant when not booting from HC files.
 ifeq "$4 $$(BootingFromHc)" "YES NO"
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/%.c $$(MKDIRHIER) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/%.c $$($1_$2_HC_DEP) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" $$($1_$2_$3_GHC_CC_OPTS) -c $$< -o $$@
 
 $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/$2/build/%.c $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
@@ -30,8 +29,7 @@ $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/$2/build/%.c $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
 $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)s $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" $$($1_$2_$3_GHC_CC_OPTS) -c $$< -o $$@
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/%.S $$(MKDIRHIER) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/%.S $$($1_$2_HC_DEP) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" $$($1_$2_$3_GHC_CC_OPTS) -c $$< -o $$@
 
 $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)s : $1/$2/build/%.c $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
@@ -42,8 +40,7 @@ $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)s : $1/%.c $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
 
 else
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/%.c $$(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/%.c | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(CC)" $$($1_$2_$3_ALL_CC_OPTS) -c $$< -o $$@
 
 $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/$2/build/%.c
@@ -52,8 +49,7 @@ $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/$2/build/%.c
 $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)s
 	"$$(AS)" $$($1_$2_$3_ALL_AS_OPTS) -o $$@ $$<
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/%.S $$(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/%.S | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(CC)" $$($1_$2_$3_ALL_CC_OPTS) -c $$< -o $$@
 
 $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)s : $1/$2/build/%.c
diff --git a/rules/cmm-suffix-rules.mk b/rules/cmm-suffix-rules.mk
index 0cb1c453c1..b806414a43 100644
--- a/rules/cmm-suffix-rules.mk
+++ b/rules/cmm-suffix-rules.mk
@@ -22,28 +22,22 @@ ifneq "$$(CLEANING)" "YES"
 
 ifneq "$$(BootingFromHc)" "YES"
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)o : $1/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)o : $1/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" $$($1_$2_$3_MOST_HC_OPTS) -c $$< -o $$@
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)o : $1/$2/build/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)o : $1/$2/build/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" $$($1_$2_$3_MOST_HC_OPTS) -c $$< -o $$@
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)hc : $1/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)hc : $1/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" $$($1_$2_$3_MOST_HC_OPTS) -C $$< -o $$@
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)hc : $1/$2/build/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)hc : $1/$2/build/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" $$($1_$2_$3_MOST_HC_OPTS) -C $$< -o $$@
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)s : $1/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)s : $1/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" $$($1_$2_$3_MOST_HC_OPTS) -S $$< -o $$@
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)s : $1/$2/build/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_way_)s : $1/$2/build/%.cmm $$(rts_H_FILES) $$($1_$2_HC_DEP) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$($1_$2_HC)" $$($1_$2_$3_MOST_HC_OPTS) -S $$< -o $$@
 
 endif
diff --git a/rules/haddock.mk b/rules/haddock.mk
index a6ad82ef3d..5e5b2f25ac 100644
--- a/rules/haddock.mk
+++ b/rules/haddock.mk
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ ifeq "$$(HSCOLOUR_SRCS)" "YES"
 $1_$2_HADDOCK_FLAGS += --hyperlink-source
 endif
 
-$$($$($1_PACKAGE)_HADDOCK_FILE) : $$(MKDIRHIER) $$(INPLACE_BIN)/haddock$$(exeext) $$(GHC_CABAL_INPLACE) $$($1_$2_HS_SRCS) $$($$($1_PACKAGE)_HADDOCK_DEPS)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$$($$($1_PACKAGE)_HADDOCK_FILE) : $$(INPLACE_BIN)/haddock$$(exeext) $$(GHC_CABAL_INPLACE) $$($1_$2_HS_SRCS) $$($$($1_PACKAGE)_HADDOCK_DEPS) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(GHC_CABAL_INPLACE)" haddock $2 $1 --with-haddock=$$(TOP)/$$(INPLACE_BIN)/haddock --with-ghc=$$(TOP)/$$(INPLACE_BIN)/ghc-stage2 $$($1_$2_HADDOCK_FLAGS) $$($1_$2_HADDOCK_OPTS)
 
 # Make the haddocking depend on the library .a file, to ensure
diff --git a/rules/hs-suffix-rules-srcdir.mk b/rules/hs-suffix-rules-srcdir.mk
index 1829057318..168a880521 100644
--- a/rules/hs-suffix-rules-srcdir.mk
+++ b/rules/hs-suffix-rules-srcdir.mk
@@ -18,20 +18,16 @@ define hs-suffix-rules-srcdir
 
 ifneq "$$(BootingFromHc)" "YES"
 
-$1/$2/build/%.hs : $1/$4/%.ly $$(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.hs : $1/$4/%.ly | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(HAPPY)" $$($1_$2_$3_ALL_HAPPY_OPTS) $$< -o $$@
 
-$1/$2/build/%.hs : $1/$4/%.y $$(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.hs : $1/$4/%.y | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(HAPPY)" $$($1_$2_$3_ALL_HAPPY_OPTS) $$< -o $$@
 
-$1/$2/build/%.hs : $1/$4/%.x $$(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.hs : $1/$4/%.x | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(ALEX)" $$($1_$2_$3_ALL_ALEX_OPTS) $$< -o $$@
 
-$1/$2/build/%_hsc.c $1/$2/build/%_hsc.h $1/$2/build/%.hs : $1/$4/%.hsc $$(HSC2HS_INPLACE)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%_hsc.c $1/$2/build/%_hsc.h $1/$2/build/%.hs : $1/$4/%.hsc $$(HSC2HS_INPLACE) | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(HSC2HS_INPLACE)" $$($1_$2_$3_ALL_HSC2HS_OPTS) $$< -o $$@
 
 # Compiling Haskell source
@@ -53,8 +49,7 @@ endif
 # XXX: for some reason these get used in preference to the direct
 # .hs->.o rule, I don't know why --SDM
 
-$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/$4/%.hc includes/ghcautoconf.h includes/ghcplatform.h $$(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$$(MKDIRHIER)" $$(dir $$@)
+$1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/$4/%.hc includes/ghcautoconf.h includes/ghcplatform.h | $$$$(dir $$$$@)/.
 	"$$(CC)" $$($1_$2_$3_ALL_CC_OPTS) -Iincludes -x c -c $$< -o $$@
 
 $1/$2/build/%.$$($3_osuf) : $1/$2/build/%.hc includes/ghcautoconf.h includes/ghcplatform.h
diff --git a/utils/ghc-cabal/ghc.mk b/utils/ghc-cabal/ghc.mk
index c41cd01cd8..71232fb422 100644
--- a/utils/ghc-cabal/ghc.mk
+++ b/utils/ghc-cabal/ghc.mk
@@ -18,13 +18,10 @@ CABAL_DOTTED_VERSION := $(shell grep "^Version:" libraries/Cabal/Cabal.cabal | s
 CABAL_VERSION := $(subst .,$(comma),$(CABAL_DOTTED_VERSION))
 CABAL_CONSTRAINT := --constraint="Cabal == $(CABAL_DOTTED_VERSION)"
 
-$(GHC_CABAL_INPLACE) : $(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/dist/build/tmp/ghc-cabal$(exeext)
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+$(GHC_CABAL_INPLACE) : $(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/dist/build/tmp/ghc-cabal$(exeext) | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	"$(CP)" $< $@
 
-$(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/dist/build/tmp/ghc-cabal$(exeext): $(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/ghc-cabal.hs $(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" bootstrapping
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+$(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/dist/build/tmp/ghc-cabal$(exeext): $(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/ghc-cabal.hs | $$(dir $$@)/. bootstrapping/.
 	"$(GHC)" $(SRC_HC_OPTS) --make $(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/ghc-cabal.hs -o $@ \
 	       -Wall $(WERROR) \
 	       -DCABAL_VERSION=$(CABAL_VERSION) \
@@ -54,8 +51,7 @@ $(GHC_CABAL_DIR)_dist-dummy-ghc_MODULES = dummy-ghc
 $(GHC_CABAL_DIR)_dist-dummy-ghc_PROG    = dummy-ghc$(exeext)
 
 # depend on project.mk, so we pick up the new version number if it changes.
-$(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/dist-dummy-ghc/build/dummy-ghc.hs : $(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/ghc.mk $(MKDIRHIER) mk/project.mk
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+$(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/dist-dummy-ghc/build/dummy-ghc.hs : $(GHC_CABAL_DIR)/ghc.mk mk/project.mk | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	echo "import System.Environment; import System.Cmd; import System.Exit" >$@
 	echo "main :: IO ()" >>$@
 	echo "main = do args <- getArgs; if args == [\"--numeric-version\"] then putStrLn \"$(ProjectVersion)\" else do e <- rawSystem \"$(GHC_STAGE0)\" args; exitWith e" >>$@
diff --git a/utils/ghc-pkg/ghc.mk b/utils/ghc-pkg/ghc.mk
index 679570315f..d5ee062419 100644
--- a/utils/ghc-pkg/ghc.mk
+++ b/utils/ghc-pkg/ghc.mk
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@ endif
 
 else
 
-$(GHC_PKG_INPLACE) : utils/ghc-pkg/dist/build/$(utils/ghc-pkg_dist_PROG)$(exeext) $(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(INPLACE_PACKAGE_CONF)
+$(GHC_PKG_INPLACE) : utils/ghc-pkg/dist/build/$(utils/ghc-pkg_dist_PROG)$(exeext) | $$(dir $$@)/. $(INPLACE_PACKAGE_CONF)/.
 	"$(RM)" $(RM_OPTS) $(INPLACE_PACKAGE_CONF)/*
 ifeq "$(Windows)" "YES"
 	cp $< $@
@@ -47,9 +46,7 @@ endif
 
 # depend on ghc-cabal, otherwise we build Cabal twice when building in parallel
 # The binary package is not warning-clean, so we need a few -fno-warns here.
-utils/ghc-pkg/dist/build/$(utils/ghc-pkg_dist_PROG)$(exeext): utils/ghc-pkg/Main.hs utils/ghc-pkg/Version.hs $(GHC_CABAL_INPLACE) $(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" bootstrapping
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" utils/ghc-pkg/dist/build
+utils/ghc-pkg/dist/build/$(utils/ghc-pkg_dist_PROG)$(exeext): utils/ghc-pkg/Main.hs utils/ghc-pkg/Version.hs $(GHC_CABAL_INPLACE) | bootstrapping/. $$(dir $$@)/.
 	"$(GHC)" $(SRC_HC_OPTS) --make utils/ghc-pkg/Main.hs -o $@ \
 	       -Wall -fno-warn-unused-imports \
 	       -DCABAL_VERSION=$(CABAL_VERSION) \
diff --git a/utils/mkdependC/ghc.mk b/utils/mkdependC/ghc.mk
index 1fa673a767..229e3ee40e 100644
--- a/utils/mkdependC/ghc.mk
+++ b/utils/mkdependC/ghc.mk
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@
 #
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-$(MKDEPENDC) : utils/mkdependC/mkdependC.prl $(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+$(MKDEPENDC) : utils/mkdependC/mkdependC.prl | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	"$(RM)" $(RM_OPTS) $@
 	echo '#!$(PERL)'                               >> $@
 	echo '$$DEFAULT_TMPDIR = "$(DEFAULT_TMPDIR)";' >> $@
diff --git a/utils/runghc/ghc.mk b/utils/runghc/ghc.mk
index b43634eaab..8892ce0c82 100644
--- a/utils/runghc/ghc.mk
+++ b/utils/runghc/ghc.mk
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@ utils/runghc_dist_INSTALL_SHELL_WRAPPER = YES
 
 ifneq "$(BINDIST)" "YES"
 # hack: the build system has trouble with Main modules not called Main.hs
-utils/runghc/dist/build/Main.hs : utils/runghc/runghc.hs $(MKDIRHIER)
-	"$(MKDIRHIER)" $(dir $@)
+utils/runghc/dist/build/Main.hs : utils/runghc/runghc.hs | $$(dir $$@)/.
 	"$(CP)" $< $@
 endif