diff --git a/src/Makefile.housekeeping b/src/Makefile.housekeeping
index cc13372a..ae0bae85 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.housekeeping
+++ b/src/Makefile.housekeeping
@@ -379,8 +379,10 @@ $(BIN)/deps/%.d : % $(MAKEDEPS) $(PARSEROM)
 #
 AUTO_DEPS	= $(patsubst %,$(BIN)/deps/%.d,$(AUTO_SRCS))
 ifdef NEED_DEPS
+ifneq ($(AUTO_DEPS),)
 -include $(AUTO_DEPS)
 endif
+endif
 autodeps :
 	@$(ECHO) $(AUTO_DEPS)
 VERYCLEANUP	+= $(BIN)/deps
@@ -636,8 +638,10 @@ MEDIA_DEPS		= $(patsubst %,$(BIN)/deps/%.media.d,$(AUTO_MEDIA))
 mediadeps :
 	@$(ECHO) $(MEDIA_DEPS)
 ifdef NEED_DEPS
+ifneq ($(MEDIA_DEPS),)
 -include $(MEDIA_DEPS)
 endif
+endif
 
 # Wrap up binary blobs (for embedded images)
 #