diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9d2e31e494a..b204a500438 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2447,7 +2447,7 @@ cmd_genenv = \
 	sed -e '/^\s*$$/d' | \
 	sort -t '=' -k 1,1 -s -o $@
 
-u-boot-initial-env: $(env_h) FORCE
+u-boot-initial-env: scripts_basic $(env_h) FORCE
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=tools $(objtree)/tools/printinitialenv
 	$(call if_changed,genenv)