diff --git a/lib/hdb/Makefile.am b/lib/hdb/Makefile.am
index 3b71b948c..6af568b35 100644
--- a/lib/hdb/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/hdb/Makefile.am
@@ -34,3 +34,7 @@ asn1_files: ../asn1/asn1_compile $(srcdir)/hdb.asn1
 	../asn1/asn1_compile $(srcdir)/hdb.asn1 hdb_asn1
 
 $(libhdb_la_OBJECTS): hdb_asn1.h hdb_err.h
+
+# to help stupid solaris make
+
+hdb_err.h: hdb_err.et
diff --git a/lib/krb5/Makefile.am b/lib/krb5/Makefile.am
index 3a05ff767..8e372c926 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/Makefile.am
+++ b/lib/krb5/Makefile.am
@@ -112,3 +112,9 @@ include_HEADERS = krb5.h krb5-protos.h krb5-private.h krb5_err.h heim_err.h
 CLEANFILES = krb5_err.c krb5_err.h heim_err.c heim_err.h
 
 $(libkrb5_la_OBJECTS): krb5_err.h heim_err.h
+
+# to help stupid solaris make
+
+krb5_err.h: krb5_err.et
+
+heim_err.h: heim_err.et