diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile b/tools/perf/Makefile
index 816d5d84816b..5b713837eede 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile
@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ build-test:
 build-test-tarball:
 	@$(MAKE) -f tests/make REUSE_FEATURES_DUMP=1 MK=Makefile SET_PARALLEL=1 --no-print-directory out
 
+check-headers:
+	@./check-headers.sh
+
 #
 # All other targets get passed through:
 #
@@ -118,4 +121,4 @@ build-test-tarball:
 	$(print_msg)
 	$(make)
 
-.PHONY: tags TAGS FORCE Makefile
+.PHONY: tags TAGS FORCE Makefile build-test build-test-tarball check-headers
diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
index cee19c923c06..585637fc934f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
@@ -285,7 +285,6 @@ goals := $(filter-out all sub-make, $(MAKECMDGOALS))
 $(goals) all: sub-make
 
 sub-make: fixdep
-	@./check-headers.sh
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) FIXDEP_BUILT=1 -f Makefile.perf $(goals)
 
 else # force_fixdep