diff --git a/backend/Makefile.am b/backend/Makefile.am
index 4f8c01b31..9507fe7ac 100644
--- a/backend/Makefile.am
+++ b/backend/Makefile.am
@@ -56,14 +56,6 @@ dll-preload.h:
 	fi; \
 	echo "};" >> $@
 
-# generate options files for pixma backend
-pixma/pixma_sane_options.h:
-	@echo Generating pixma_sane_options.h from pixma.c
-	@python pixma/scripts/pixma_gen_options.py h < pixma/pixma.c > pixma/pixma_sane_options.h
-pixma/pixma_sane_options.c:
-	@echo Generating pixma_sane_options.c from pixma.c
-	@python pixma/scripts/pixma_gen_options.py < pixma/pixma.c > pixma/pixma_sane_options.c
-
 # TODO: This really belongs together with the saned sources and
 # should be installed there as well.
 EXTRA_DIST += saned.conf.in
@@ -945,15 +937,30 @@ libpixma_la_SOURCES = pixma/pixma.c \
 	pixma/pixma_rename.h
 libpixma_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(XML_CFLAGS) -DBACKEND_NAME=pixma
 
+# Generate options files included by pixma/pixma.c from said file.
+# The circular dependency means we cannot add it as a prerequisite
+# for the targets that build the options files.
+
+$(srcdir)/pixma/pixma.c: \
+	$(srcdir)/pixma/pixma_sane_options.h \
+	$(srcdir)/pixma/pixma_sane_options.c
+
+$(srcdir)/pixma/pixma_sane_options.h:
+	@echo Generating $@ from $(@D)/pixma.c
+	@(cd $(@D); python scripts/pixma_gen_options.py h < pixma.c > $(@F))
+$(srcdir)/pixma/pixma_sane_options.c:
+	@echo Generating $@ from $(@D)/pixma.c
+	@(cd $(@D); python scripts/pixma_gen_options.py   < pixma.c > $(@F))
+
+EXTRA_DIST += pixma/pixma_sane_options.c
+EXTRA_DIST += pixma/pixma_sane_options.h
+EXTRA_DIST += pixma/scripts/pixma_gen_options.py
+
 nodist_libsane_pixma_la_SOURCES = pixma-s.c
 libsane_pixma_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) -DBACKEND_NAME=pixma
 libsane_pixma_la_LDFLAGS = $(DIST_SANELIBS_LDFLAGS)
 libsane_pixma_la_LIBADD = $(COMMON_LIBS) libpixma.la ../sanei/sanei_init_debug.lo ../sanei/sanei_constrain_value.lo ../sanei/sanei_config.lo  sane_strstatus.lo ../sanei/sanei_usb.lo ../sanei/sanei_thread.lo $(SANEI_SANEI_JPEG_LO) $(JPEG_LIBS) $(XML_LIBS) $(MATH_LIB) $(SOCKET_LIBS) $(USB_LIBS) $(SANEI_THREAD_LIBS) $(RESMGR_LIBS)
 EXTRA_DIST += pixma.conf.in
-# included in pixma.c
-BUILT_SOURCES = pixma/pixma_sane_options.c pixma/pixma_sane_options.h
-CLEANFILES += pixma/pixma_sane_options.c pixma/pixma_sane_options.h
-
 
 libplustek_la_SOURCES = plustek.c plustek.h
 libplustek_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) -DBACKEND_NAME=plustek
@@ -1223,7 +1230,7 @@ libdll_preload_la_LIBADD = ../sanei/sanei_usb.lo $(USB_LIBS) $(XML_LIBS)
 libdll_la_SOURCES =  dll.c
 libdll_la_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) -DBACKEND_NAME=dll
 libdll_la_LIBADD = ../sanei/sanei_usb.lo $(USB_LIBS) $(XML_LIBS)
-BUILT_SOURCES += dll-preload.h
+BUILT_SOURCES = dll-preload.h
 CLEANFILES += dll-preload.h
 
 nodist_libsane_dll_la_SOURCES =  dll-s.c