diff --git a/tools/iio/Build b/tools/iio/Build
index f74cbda64710..8d0f3af3723f 100644
--- a/tools/iio/Build
+++ b/tools/iio/Build
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+iio_utils-y += iio_utils.o
 lsiio-y += lsiio.o iio_utils.o
 iio_event_monitor-y += iio_event_monitor.o iio_utils.o
 iio_generic_buffer-y += iio_generic_buffer.o iio_utils.o
diff --git a/tools/iio/Makefile b/tools/iio/Makefile
index e22378dba244..3de763d9ab70 100644
--- a/tools/iio/Makefile
+++ b/tools/iio/Makefile
@@ -32,20 +32,24 @@ $(OUTPUT)include/linux/iio: ../../include/uapi/linux/iio
 
 prepare: $(OUTPUT)include/linux/iio
 
+IIO_UTILS_IN := $(OUTPUT)iio_utils-in.o
+$(IIO_UTILS_IN): prepare FORCE
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=iio_utils
+
 LSIIO_IN := $(OUTPUT)lsiio-in.o
-$(LSIIO_IN): prepare FORCE
+$(LSIIO_IN): prepare FORCE $(OUTPUT)iio_utils-in.o
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=lsiio
 $(OUTPUT)lsiio: $(LSIIO_IN)
 	$(QUIET_LINK)$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $< -o $@
 
 IIO_EVENT_MONITOR_IN := $(OUTPUT)iio_event_monitor-in.o
-$(IIO_EVENT_MONITOR_IN): prepare FORCE
+$(IIO_EVENT_MONITOR_IN): prepare FORCE $(OUTPUT)iio_utils-in.o
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=iio_event_monitor
 $(OUTPUT)iio_event_monitor: $(IIO_EVENT_MONITOR_IN)
 	$(QUIET_LINK)$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $< -o $@
 
 IIO_GENERIC_BUFFER_IN := $(OUTPUT)iio_generic_buffer-in.o
-$(IIO_GENERIC_BUFFER_IN): prepare FORCE
+$(IIO_GENERIC_BUFFER_IN): prepare FORCE $(OUTPUT)iio_utils-in.o
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=iio_generic_buffer
 $(OUTPUT)iio_generic_buffer: $(IIO_GENERIC_BUFFER_IN)
 	$(QUIET_LINK)$(CC) $(CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $< -o $@