diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f434778e91df3..35034bff89312 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@
 *.pyc
 *.mapfile
 *.SystemMap
+*.ld.tmp
+*.script.tmp
+*.linkcmd.tmp
 *~
 \#*\#
 .\#*
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/Makefile b/arch/arm/src/Makefile
index 7c6da2a3eaabe..db4bcac80262d 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/src/Makefile
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ VPATH += chip
 VPATH += common
 VPATH += $(ARCH_SUBDIR)
 
+vpath nuttx$(EXEEXT) $(TOPDIR)
+
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_ARM_TOOLCHAIN_IAR),y)
   VPATH += common$(DELIM)iar
 else # ifeq ($(CONFIG_ARCH_TOOLCHAIN_GNU),y)
@@ -170,8 +172,6 @@ endif
 
 all: $(HEAD_OBJ) $(BIN)
 
-.PHONY: board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT)
-
 $(AOBJS) $(UAOBJS) $(HEAD_OBJ): %$(OBJEXT): %.S
 	$(call ASSEMBLE, $<, $@)
 
@@ -192,9 +192,13 @@ endif
 $(KBIN): $(OBJS)
 	$(call ARCHIVE, $@, $(OBJS))
 
-board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT):
+board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT): FORCE
 	$(Q) $(MAKE) -C board libboard$(LIBEXT) EXTRAFLAGS="$(EXTRAFLAGS)"
 
+.PHONY: FORCE
+
+FORCE:
+
 # When multiple linking, these two additional linking objects will be included
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_MM_KASAN_GLOBAL),y)
@@ -218,10 +222,10 @@ define LINK_ALLSYMS_KASAN
 		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LDENDGROUP)
 endef
 
-$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT)
+$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT) $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM).config
 	$(call PREPROCESS, $(patsubst %.tmp,%,$@), $@)
 
-nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT))
+nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)) $(addprefix $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM)staging$(DELIM),$(LINKLIBS))
 	$(Q) echo "LD: nuttx"
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_ALLSYMS)$(CONFIG_MM_KASAN_GLOBAL),)
 	$(Q) $(LD) $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) $(EXTRA_LIBPATHS) \
@@ -242,7 +246,6 @@ ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \
 	sort > $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM)System.map
 endif
-	$(Q) $(call DELFILE, $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)))
 
 # This is part of the top-level export target
 # Note that there may not be a head object if layout is handled
diff --git a/arch/arm64/src/Makefile b/arch/arm64/src/Makefile
index 73cefe97d486e..568325b89dd0e 100644
--- a/arch/arm64/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm64/src/Makefile
@@ -132,9 +132,9 @@ VPATH += chip
 VPATH += common
 VPATH += $(ARCH_SUBDIR)
 
-all: $(HEAD_OBJ) $(BIN)
+vpath nuttx$(EXEEXT) $(TOPDIR)
 
-.PHONY: board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT)
+all: $(HEAD_OBJ) $(BIN)
 
 $(AOBJS) $(UAOBJS) $(HEAD_OBJ): %$(OBJEXT): %.S
 	$(call ASSEMBLE, $<, $@)
@@ -156,9 +156,13 @@ endif
 $(KBIN): $(OBJS)
 	$(call ARCHIVE, $@, $(OBJS))
 
-board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT):
+board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT): FORCE
 	$(Q) $(MAKE) -C board libboard$(LIBEXT) EXTRAFLAGS="$(EXTRAFLAGS)"
 
+.PHONY: FORCE
+
+FORCE:
+
 # When multiple linking, these two additional linking objects will be included
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_MM_KASAN_GLOBAL),y)
@@ -182,10 +186,10 @@ define LINK_ALLSYMS_KASAN
 		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LDENDGROUP)
 endef
 
-$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT)
+$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT) $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM).config
 	$(call PREPROCESS, $(patsubst %.tmp,%,$@), $@)
 
-nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT))
+nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board$(DELIM)libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)) $(addprefix $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM)staging$(DELIM),$(LINKLIBS))
 	$(Q) echo "LD: nuttx"
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_ALLSYMS)$(CONFIG_MM_KASAN_GLOBAL),)
 	$(Q) $(LD) --entry=__start $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) $(EXTRA_LIBPATHS) \
@@ -206,7 +210,6 @@ ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \
 	sort > $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM)System.map
 endif
-	$(Q) $(call DELFILE, $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)))
 
 # This is part of the top-level export target
 # Note that there may not be a head object if layout is handled
diff --git a/arch/risc-v/src/Makefile b/arch/risc-v/src/Makefile
index be9ea8bdce3f4..a20e9b20c4ce8 100644
--- a/arch/risc-v/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/risc-v/src/Makefile
@@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ VPATH += $(SBI_DIR)
 VPATH += $(ARCH_SUBDIR)
 VPATH += $(CHIP_DIR)
 
-all: $(HEAD_OBJ) $(BIN)
+vpath nuttx$(EXEEXT) $(TOPDIR)
 
-.PHONY: board/libboard$(LIBEXT)
+all: $(HEAD_OBJ) $(BIN)
 
 $(AOBJS) $(UAOBJS) $(HEAD_OBJ): %$(OBJEXT): %.S
 	$(call ASSEMBLE, $<, $@)
@@ -157,9 +157,13 @@ endif
 $(KBIN): $(OBJS)
 	$(call ARCHIVE, $@, $(OBJS))
 
-board/libboard$(LIBEXT):
+board/libboard$(LIBEXT): FORCE
 	$(Q) $(MAKE) -C board libboard$(LIBEXT) EXTRAFLAGS="$(EXTRAFLAGS)"
 
+.PHONY: FORCE
+
+FORCE:
+
 # When multiple linking, these two additional linking objects will be included
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_MM_KASAN_GLOBAL),y)
@@ -183,10 +187,10 @@ define LINK_ALLSYMS_KASAN
 		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(LDLIBS) $(EXTRA_LIBS) $(LDENDGROUP)
 endef
 
-$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT)
+$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT) $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM).config
 	$(call PREPROCESS, $(patsubst %.tmp,%,$@), $@)
 
-nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board/libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT))
+nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board/libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)) $(addprefix $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM)staging$(DELIM),$(LINKLIBS))
 	$(Q) echo "LD: nuttx"
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_ALLSYMS)$(CONFIG_MM_KASAN_GLOBAL),)
 	$(Q) $(LD) $(LDENTRY) $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) $(EXTRA_LIBPATHS) \
@@ -207,7 +211,6 @@ ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \
 	sort > $(TOPDIR)/System.map
 endif
-	$(Q) $(call DELFILE, $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)))
 
 # This is part of the top-level export target
 # Note that there may not be a head object if layout is handled
diff --git a/arch/sim/src/Makefile b/arch/sim/src/Makefile
index 9cef07a2ae23d..8a25b107837ba 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/sim/src/Makefile
@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@ else
 endif
 DEPPATH = $(patsubst %,--dep-path %,$(subst :, ,$(VPATH)))
 
+vpath nuttx$(EXEEXT) $(TOPDIR)
+
 CFLAGS += -fvisibility=default
 HOSTCFLAGS = $(ARCHWARNINGS) $(ARCHOPTIMIZATION) \
    $(ARCHCFLAGS) $(HOSTINCLUDES) $(EXTRAFLAGS) -D__SIM__ \
@@ -372,7 +374,7 @@ RELLIBS += -lboard
 
 all: sim_head$(OBJEXT) libarch$(LIBEXT)
 
-.PHONY: export_startup clean distclean cleanrel depend board/libboard$(LIBEXT)
+.PHONY: export_startup clean distclean cleanrel depend FORCE
 
 $(AOBJS): %$(OBJEXT): %.S
 	$(call ASSEMBLE, $<, $@)
@@ -394,9 +396,11 @@ libarch$(LIBEXT): $(NUTTXOBJS)
 # the simulation.  However, this is a good place to keep parts of the simulation
 # that are not hardware-related.
 
-board/libboard$(LIBEXT):
+board/libboard$(LIBEXT): FORCE
 	$(Q) $(MAKE) -C board libboard$(LIBEXT) EXTRAFLAGS="$(EXTRAFLAGS)"
 
+FORCE:
+
 # A partially linked object containing only NuttX code (no interface to host OS)
 # Change the names of most symbols that conflict with libc symbols.
 # Generate the final NuttX binary by linking the host-specific objects with the NuttX
diff --git a/arch/x86_64/src/Makefile b/arch/x86_64/src/Makefile
index 0089fbab5f328..967a9760f4662 100644
--- a/arch/x86_64/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/x86_64/src/Makefile
@@ -105,9 +105,9 @@ endif
 
 VPATH = chip:common:$(ARCH_SUBDIR)
 
-all: libarch$(LIBEXT)
+vpath nuttx$(EXEEXT) $(TOPDIR)
 
-.PHONY: board/libboard$(LIBEXT)
+all: libarch$(LIBEXT)
 
 $(AOBJS): %$(OBJEXT): %.S
 	$(call ASSEMBLE, $<, $@)
@@ -129,9 +129,13 @@ endif
 $(KBIN): $(OBJS)
 	$(call ARCHIVE, $@, $(OBJS))
 
-board/libboard$(LIBEXT):
+board/libboard$(LIBEXT): FORCE
 	$(Q) $(MAKE) -C board libboard$(LIBEXT) EXTRAFLAGS="$(EXTRAFLAGS)"
 
+.PHONY: FORCE
+
+FORCE:
+
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_ALLSYMS),y)
 EXTRA_LIBS += allsyms$(OBJEXT)
 endif
@@ -154,10 +158,10 @@ define LINK_ALLSYMS_KASAN
 		$(LDSTARTGROUP) $(EXTRA_LIBS) --no-relax $(LDLIBS) $(LDENDGROUP)
 endef
 
-$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT)
+$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT) $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM).config
 	$(call PREPROCESS, $(patsubst %.tmp,%,$@), $@)
 
-nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board/libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT))
+nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(HEAD_OBJ) board/libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)) $(addprefix $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM)staging$(DELIM),$(LINKLIBS))
 	@echo "LD: nuttx$(EXEEXT)"
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_ALLSYMS)$(CONFIG_MM_KASAN_GLOBAL),)
@@ -170,7 +174,6 @@ else
 	$(Q) $(call LINK_ALLSYMS_KASAN)
 	$(Q) $(call LINK_ALLSYMS_KASAN)
 endif
-	$(Q) $(call DELFILE, $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)))
 
 ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	$(Q) $(NM) $(NUTTX) | \
@@ -217,6 +220,7 @@ clean:
 ifeq ($(BOARDMAKE),y)
 	$(Q) $(MAKE) -C board clean
 endif
+	$(call DELFILE, $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)))
 	$(call DELFILE, libarch$(LIBEXT))
 	$(call CLEAN)
 
diff --git a/arch/xtensa/src/Makefile b/arch/xtensa/src/Makefile
index a21db44c16b5f..cdaeaa8b01374 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/xtensa/src/Makefile
@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ VPATH += common/espressif
 VPATH += $(ARCH_SUBDIR)
 VPATH += $(CHIP_DIR)
 
-all: $(STARTUP_OBJS) libarch$(LIBEXT)
+vpath nuttx$(EXEEXT) $(TOPDIR)
 
-.PHONY: board/libboard$(LIBEXT)
+all: $(STARTUP_OBJS) libarch$(LIBEXT)
 
 $(AOBJS) $(UAOBJS) $(HEAD_AOBJ): %$(OBJEXT): %.S
 	$(call ASSEMBLE, $<, $@)
@@ -159,9 +159,13 @@ endif
 $(KBIN): $(OBJS)
 	$(call ARCHIVE, $@, $(OBJS))
 
-board/libboard$(LIBEXT):
+board/libboard$(LIBEXT): FORCE
 	$(Q) $(MAKE) -C board libboard$(LIBEXT) EXTRAFLAGS="$(EXTRAFLAGS)"
 
+.PHONY: FORCE
+
+FORCE:
+
 define LINK_ALLSYMS
 	$(Q) $(TOPDIR)/tools/mkallsyms.py $(NUTTX) allsyms.tmp --orderbyname $(CONFIG_SYMTAB_ORDEREDBYNAME)
 	$(Q) $(call COMPILE, allsyms.tmp, allsyms$(OBJEXT), -x c)
@@ -171,10 +175,10 @@ define LINK_ALLSYMS
 	$(Q) $(call DELFILE, allsyms.tmp allsyms$(OBJEXT))
 endef
 
-$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT)
+$(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)): $(ARCHSCRIPT) $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM).config
 	$(call PREPROCESS, $(patsubst %.tmp,%,$@), $@)
 
-nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(STARTUP_OBJS) board/libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT))
+nuttx$(EXEEXT): $(STARTUP_OBJS) board/libboard$(LIBEXT) $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)) $(addprefix $(TOPDIR)$(DELIM)staging$(DELIM),$(LINKLIBS))
 	$(Q) echo "LD: nuttx"
 ifneq ($(CONFIG_ALLSYMS),y)
 	$(Q) $(LD) --entry=__start $(LDFLAGS) $(LIBPATHS) $(EXTRA_LIBPATHS) \
@@ -193,7 +197,6 @@ ifneq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
 	grep -v '\(compiled\)\|\(\$(OBJEXT)$$\)\|\( [aUw] \)\|\(\.\.ng$$\)\|\(LASH[RL]DI\)' | \
 	sort > $(TOPDIR)/System.map
 endif
-	$(Q) $(call DELFILE, $(addsuffix .tmp,$(ARCHSCRIPT)))
 
 # This is part of the top-level export target
 
diff --git a/libs/libc/misc/Make.defs b/libs/libc/misc/Make.defs
index 812379b706481..98b896d4a6841 100644
--- a/libs/libc/misc/Make.defs
+++ b/libs/libc/misc/Make.defs
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ endif
 # To ensure uname information is newest,
 # add lib_utsname.o to phony target for force rebuild
 
-#if !defined(CONFIG_LIBC_UNAME_DISABLE_TIMESTAMP)
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_LIBC_UNAME_DISABLE_TIMESTAMP),)
 .PHONY: bin$(DELIM)lib_utsname$(OBJEXT) kbin$(DELIM)lib_utsname$(OBJEXT)
-#endif
+endif
 
 # Add the misc directory to the build
 
diff --git a/tools/Unix.mk b/tools/Unix.mk
index 935deae876af6..6cd5ffad82857 100644
--- a/tools/Unix.mk
+++ b/tools/Unix.mk
@@ -266,11 +266,12 @@ tools/mkconfig$(HOSTEXEEXT): prebuild
 include/nuttx/config.h: $(TOPDIR)/.config tools/mkconfig$(HOSTEXEEXT)
 	$(Q) grep -v "CONFIG_BASE_DEFCONFIG" "$(TOPDIR)/.config" > "$(TOPDIR)/.config.tmp"
 	$(Q) if ! cmp -s "$(TOPDIR)/.config.tmp" "$(TOPDIR)/.config.orig" ; then \
-		sed -i.bak -e "/CONFIG_BASE_DEFCONFIG/ { /-dirty/! s/\"$$/-dirty\"/; }" "$(TOPDIR)/.config" ; \
+		sed -e "/CONFIG_BASE_DEFCONFIG/ { /-dirty/! s/\"$$/-dirty\"/; }" "$(TOPDIR)/.config" > "$(TOPDIR)/.config.dirty" ; \
 	else \
-		sed -i.bak "s/-dirty//g" "$(TOPDIR)/.config"; \
+		sed "s/-dirty//g" "$(TOPDIR)/.config" > "$(TOPDIR)/.config.dirty"; \
 	fi
-	$(Q) rm -f "$(TOPDIR)/.config.tmp" "$(TOPDIR)/.config.bak"
+	$(Q) rm -f "$(TOPDIR)/.config.tmp"
+	$(Q) $(call TESTANDREPLACEFILE, $(TOPDIR)/.config.dirty, $(TOPDIR)/.config)
 	$(Q) tools/mkconfig $(TOPDIR) > $@.tmp
 	$(Q) $(call TESTANDREPLACEFILE, $@.tmp, $@)