diff --git a/en/.gitignore b/en/.gitignore
index 26f2965..794775e 100644
--- a/en/.gitignore
+++ b/en/.gitignore
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ pdfa.xmpi
 # The final artifacts are also generated
 thesis.pdf
 abstract.pdf
+
+always_build
diff --git a/en/Makefile b/en/Makefile
index 00d6da1..6c89d78 100644
--- a/en/Makefile
+++ b/en/Makefile
@@ -1,21 +1,28 @@
 export TEXINPUTS=../tex//:
 
-all: thesis.pdf abstract.pdf verapdf_report.xml
+all: always_build thesis.pdf abstract.pdf verapdf_report.xml
 
 # LaTeX must be run multiple times to get references right
 thesis.pdf: thesis.tex $(wildcard *.tex) bibliography.bib thesis.xmpdata
+	touch always_build
 	pdflatex $<
 	bibtex thesis
 	pdflatex $<
 	pdflatex $<
 
-abstract.pdf: abstract.tex abstract.xmpdata
+abstract.pdf: abstract.tex abstract.xmpdata always_build
+	touch always_build
 	pdflatex $<
 
-verapdf_report.xml: thesis.pdf abstract.pdf verapdf_profile_UK7987v1c8.xml
+verapdf_report.xml: thesis.pdf abstract.pdf verapdf_profile_UK7987v1c8.xml always_build
+	touch always_build
 	verapdf --profile verapdf_profile_UK7987v1c8.xml thesis.pdf abstract.pdf > $@
 	./verapdf_summary.py
 
 clean:
+	touch always_build
 	rm -f *.log *.dvi *.aux *.toc *.lof *.lot *.out *.bbl *.blg *.xmpi
 	rm -f thesis.pdf abstract.pdf
+
+always_build:
+	touch $@