diff --git a/tools/net/ynl/Makefile b/tools/net/ynl/Makefile
index d664b36deb5b..da1aa10bbcc3 100644
--- a/tools/net/ynl/Makefile
+++ b/tools/net/ynl/Makefile
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ SUBDIRS = lib generated samples
 
 all: $(SUBDIRS)
 
+samples: | lib generated
+
 $(SUBDIRS):
 	@if [ -f "$@/Makefile" ] ; then \
 		$(MAKE) -C $@ ; \