diff --git a/npc/Makefile b/npc/Makefile
index 9be8987..99871ce 100644
--- a/npc/Makefile
+++ b/npc/Makefile
@@ -7,23 +7,18 @@ VERILATOR_FLAGS := --cc --exe
 
 all: sim
 
-sim: $(OBJDIR) $(VSRC) $(CPPSRC) $(SUBMAKE)
+sim: VERILATOR_FLAGS += --trace
+sim: $(VSRC) $(CPPSRC) $(SUBMAKE)
 	$(call git_commit, "sim RTL") # DO NOT REMOVE THIS LINE!!!
 	@echo "Running" $(OBJDIR)/Vexample "..."
 	@echo "================================"
 	@$(OBJDIR)/Vexample
-
-trace: VERILATOR_FLAGS += --trace
-trace: $(OBJDIR) $(VSRC) $(CPPSRC) $(SUBMAKE)
-	$(call git_commit, "trace RTL") # DO NOT REMOVE THIS LINE!!!
-	@$(OBJDIR)/Vexample
 	
-$(SUBMAKE): $(VSRC) $(CPPSRC)
+$(SUBMAKE): $(VSRC) $(CPPSRC) $(OBJDIR)
 	verilator $(VERILATOR_FLAGS) --Mdir $(PWD)/$(OBJDIR) $(VSRC) $(CPPSRC)
 
-$(OBJDIR): $(VSRC) $(CPPSRC)
+$(OBJDIR):
 	mkdir -p $(OBJDIR)
-	verilator $(VERILATOR_FLAGS) --Mdir $(PWD)/$(OBJDIR) $(VSRC) $(CPPSRC)
 
 include ../Makefile