diff --git a/python/Makefile.in b/python/Makefile.in
index 1aaec7e42..843560eca 100644
--- a/python/Makefile.in
+++ b/python/Makefile.in
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ srcdir = @srcdir@
 top_srcdir = @top_srcdir@
 top_builddir = @top_builddir@
 
-python_bindings: .liblvm_built
+TARGETS = .liblvm_built
+
+include $(top_builddir)/make.tmpl
 
 .liblvm_built: liblvm_python.c
 	$(PYTHON) setup.py build
@@ -24,18 +26,21 @@ python_bindings: .liblvm_built
 liblvm_python.c:
 	$(LN_S) $(srcdir)/liblvm.c $@
 
-include $(top_builddir)/make.tmpl
-
-install_python_bindings: python_bindings
+install_python_bindings: $(TARGETS)
 	$(PYTHON) setup.py install --skip-build --prefix $(pyexecdir)
 
 install_lvm2: install_python_bindings
 
 install: install_lvm2
 
+.PHONY: install_python_bindings
+.INTERMEDIATE: liblvm_python.c
+
 clean:
 	$(RM) -r build
 
-CLEAN_TARGETS += .liblvm_built liblvm_python.c
+distclean: clean
+
+CLEAN_TARGETS += liblvm_python.c
 
 DISTCLEAN_TARGETS += setup.py