diff --git a/include/host-build.mk b/include/host-build.mk
index d83446558e..e934c91c66 100644
--- a/include/host-build.mk
+++ b/include/host-build.mk
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ ifneq ($(CONFIG_AUTOREBUILD),)
   define HostBuild/Autoclean
     $(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/.dep_files: $(STAMP_PREPARED)
     $(call rdep,${CURDIR} $(PKG_FILE_DEPEND),$(STAMP_PREPARED))
-    $(call rdep,$(PKG_BUILD_DIR),$(STAMP_BUILT),$(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/.dep_files, -and -not -path "/.*" -and -not -path "*/ipkg*")
+    $(if $(filter prepare,$(MAKECMDGOALS)),,$(call rdep,$(PKG_BUILD_DIR),$(STAMP_BUILT),$(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/.dep_files, -and -not -path "/.*" -and -not -path "*/ipkg*"))
   endef
 endif