diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3cf321351..a400fa93d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -568,8 +568,8 @@ tar:
 #
 gen_status: ${GEN_STATUS}
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
-	${MAKE} gen_top_html
 	${GEN_STATUS} -v 1
+	${MAKE} gen_top_html
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 
 # generate the XML sitemap
@@ -584,7 +584,6 @@ gen_sitemap sitemap: ${GEN_SITEMAP}
 timestamp:
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC begin make $@ =-=-=-=-='
 	${MAKE} gen_status
-	${MAKE} gen_top_html
 	${MAKE} gen_sitemap
 	@echo '=-=-=-=-= IOCCC complete make $@ =-=-=-=-='