diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b3e91cea7..a08fb5ec1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ $(APP_EXE) $(PROBE_EXE) $(RUNSVINIT): $(SCOPE_BACKEND_BUILD_UPTODATE)
 	$(SUDO) docker run $(RM) -v $(shell pwd):/go/src/github.com/weaveworks/scope -e GOARCH -e GOOS \
 		$(SCOPE_BACKEND_BUILD_IMAGE) SCOPE_VERSION=$(SCOPE_VERSION) $@
 else
-$(APP_EXE) $(PROBE_EXE):
-	go build -ldflags "-extldflags \"-static\" -X main.version $(SCOPE_VERSION)" -tags netgo -o $@ ./$(@D)
+$(APP_EXE) $(PROBE_EXE): $(SCOPE_BACKEND_BUILD_UPTODATE)
+	go build -ldflags "-extldflags \"-static\" -X main.version=$(SCOPE_VERSION)" -tags netgo -o $@ ./$(@D)
 	@strings $@ | grep cgo_stub\\\.go >/dev/null || { \
 	        rm $@; \
 	        echo "\nYour go standard library was built without the 'netgo' build tag."; \
diff --git a/backend/build.sh b/backend/build.sh
index 81448d550..e1402a18a 100755
--- a/backend/build.sh
+++ b/backend/build.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,5 @@ set -eux
 #  -v $(pwd):/go/src/github.com/weaveworks/scope
 
 cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/weaveworks/scope
-rm $1 2>/dev/null || true
 make BUILD_IN_CONTAINER=false $@