--- src/Makefile.am.orig	2022-01-18 23:58:33 UTC
+++ src/Makefile.am
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ if HAVE_PASSWD_HELPER
 mate_screensaver_dialog_LDADD +=	\
 	../helper/libhelper-proto.a
 ../helper/libhelper-proto.a:
-	$(MAKE) -C ../helper
+	$(MAKE) -C ../helper libhelper-proto.a
 endif
 
 BUILT_SOURCES = 		\