diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 23d222e..5ab69dc 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -74,13 +74,6 @@ else ifeq ($(BOARD),MAPLE_MINI)
 LDSCRIPT = $(OPENCM3_DIR)/lib/stm32/f1/stm32f103xb.ld
 endif
 
-# verify if opencm3 has been downloaded
-OPENCM3_DIR_EXISTS = $(shell [ -f $(LDSCRIPT) ] && echo 1 || echo 0 )
-ifeq ($(OPENCM3_DIR_EXISTS), 0)
-$(info run "git submodule init" and "git submodule update" before runnig make)
-$(error libopencm3 repository is not initialized)
-endif
-
 # device micro-controller and board
 DEFS += -DSTM32F1 -D$(BOARD)
 
@@ -183,7 +176,7 @@ list: $(BINARY).list
 %.map %.list: %.elf
 	$(Q)$(OBJDUMP) -S $(<) > $(@)
 
-%.elf: $(LDSCRIPT) $(OPENCM3_LIB)/lib$(STM32F1_LIB).a $(OBJ) $(LIB_OBJ)
+%.elf: $(OPENCM3_LIB)/lib$(STM32F1_LIB).a $(OBJ) $(LIB_OBJ)
 	$(info linking $(@))
 	$(Q)$(LD) $(LDFLAGS) $(OBJ) $(LIB_OBJ) $(LDLIBS) -o $(@)
 	$(Q)size $(@)
@@ -213,6 +206,11 @@ $(OPENCM3_LIB)/lib$(STM32F1_LIB).a:
 	$(info compiling libopencm3 library)
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -C $(OPENCM3_DIR)
 
+# ensure opencm3 has been downloaded and compiled
+$(LDSCRIPT):
+	git submodule init
+	git submodule update
+
 flash: $(BINARY).hex
 	$(info flashing $(<) using SWD)
 ifeq ($(SWD_ADAPTER),STLINKV2)