diff --git a/tools/tests/x86_emulator/Makefile b/tools/tests/x86_emulator/Makefile
index 4c453eaee6..4b1f75de05 100644
--- a/tools/tests/x86_emulator/Makefile
+++ b/tools/tests/x86_emulator/Makefile
@@ -278,6 +278,7 @@ else
 run32 clean32: %32: %
 endif
 
+.PHONY: x86_emulate
 x86_emulate:
 	mkdir -p $@
 	ln -sf $(XEN_ROOT)/xen/arch/x86/$@/*.[ch] $@/