diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/FreeBSD/Makefile b/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/FreeBSD/Makefile
index eb4185d6c..ebdbbe0da 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/FreeBSD/Makefile
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/FreeBSD/Makefile
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ TARGET=libsignal.so
 
 all: ${TARGET}
 
-install: ${TARGET}
+install:
 	@${MKDIR} -p ${INSTALL_PATH}
 	cp ${TARGET} ${INSTALL_PATH}
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/Linux/Makefile b/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/Linux/Makefile
index f53e1c26c..0143ab94e 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/Linux/Makefile
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/Linux/Makefile
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ TARGET=libsignal.so
 
 all: ${TARGET}
 
-install: ${TARGET}
+install:
 	@${MKDIR} -p ${INSTALL_PATH}
 	cp ${TARGET} ${INSTALL_PATH}
 
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/Mac OS X/Makefile b/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/Mac OS X/Makefile
index ebc6de285..d75345dcf 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/Mac OS X/Makefile	
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/signal/Mac OS X/Makefile	
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ TARGET=libsignal.jnilib
 
 all: ${TARGET}
 
-install: ${TARGET}
+install:
 	@${MKDIR} -p ${INSTALL_PATH}
 	cp ${TARGET} ${INSTALL_PATH}