diff --git a/make/projects-dir.mk b/make/projects-dir.mk
index 491412ca..eb50d83c 100644
--- a/make/projects-dir.mk
+++ b/make/projects-dir.mk
@@ -86,8 +86,9 @@ status:
 	cvs status $(addsuffix VERSION,$(CVS_PROJECTS))
 	$(PGIT) status
 
-cvs-update: cvsdir.done
-	cvs update -dP $(CVS_PROJECTS)
+cvs-update:
+	rm -f $@.done
+	make $@.done
 
 git-push:
 	$(PGIT) push
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ cvsdir.done:
 	fi
 	touch $@
 
-%.done:
-	make $@
+cvs-update.done: cvsdir.done
+	cvs update -dP $(CVS_PROJECTS)
 	touch $@