diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index 8a77a54b2d..fc951d0c59 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ else
 endif
 
 .PHONY: proto
-proto:
+proto: proto-tools
 	@$(SHELL) $(CURDIR)/build-support/scripts/protobuf.sh
 
 .PHONY: proto-format