diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bbde1a7..7cfbbe2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 MAKE_HELPERS_DIRECTORY := make_helpers/
 include ${MAKE_HELPERS_DIRECTORY}build_macros.mk
 include ${MAKE_HELPERS_DIRECTORY}build_env.mk
+include ${MAKE_HELPERS_DIRECTORY}build-rules.mk
 include ${MAKE_HELPERS_DIRECTORY}common.mk
 
 ################################################################################
@@ -690,8 +691,6 @@
 	FFH_SUPPORT := 0
 endif
 
-$(eval $(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${BUILD_PLAT}))
-
 ifeq (${ARM_ARCH_MAJOR},7)
 include make_helpers/armv7-a-cpus.mk
 endif
@@ -1476,7 +1475,6 @@
 endif
 endif #(!ERROR_DEPRECATED)
 
-$(eval $(call MAKE_LIB_DIRS))
 $(eval $(call MAKE_LIB,c))
 
 # Expand build macros for the different images
diff --git a/lib/romlib/Makefile b/lib/romlib/Makefile
index 9ade331..9859ce1 100644
--- a/lib/romlib/Makefile
+++ b/lib/romlib/Makefile
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
         toolchains := aarch64
 endif
 
+include ../../make_helpers/build-rules.mk
 include ../../make_helpers/common.mk
 include ../../make_helpers/toolchain.mk
 
@@ -46,45 +47,45 @@
 
 all: $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.bin $(LIB_DIR)/libwrappers.a
 
-%.o: %.s
+%.o: %.s | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  AS      $@"
 	$(q)$(aarch64-as) -c $(ASFLAGS) -o $@ $<
 
-$(BUILD_DIR)/%.o: %.s
+$(BUILD_DIR)/%.o: %.s | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  AS      $@"
 	$(q)$(aarch64-as) -c $(ASFLAGS) -o $@ $<
 
-$(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.ld: romlib.ld.S
+$(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.ld: romlib.ld.S | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  PP      $@"
 	$(q)$(aarch64-cpp) -E $(PPFLAGS) -o $@ romlib.ld.S
 
-$(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf: $(OBJS) $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.ld
+$(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf: $(OBJS) $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.ld | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  LD      $@"
 	$(q)$(aarch64-ld) -T $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.ld -L$(LIB_DIR) $(LDFLAGS) -o $@ $(OBJS) $(LIBS)
 
-$(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.bin: $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf
+$(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.bin: $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  BIN     $@"
 	$(q)$(aarch64-oc) -O binary $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf $@
 
-$(WRAPPER_DIR)/jmpvar.s: $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf
+$(WRAPPER_DIR)/jmpvar.s: $(BUILD_DIR)/romlib.elf | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  VAR     $@"
 	$(q)$(ROMLIB_GEN) genvar --output $@ $<
 
-$(LIB_DIR)/libwrappers.a: $(WRAPPER_DIR)/jmpvar.o $(WRAPPER_OBJS)
+$(LIB_DIR)/libwrappers.a: $(WRAPPER_DIR)/jmpvar.o $(WRAPPER_OBJS) | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  AR      $@"
 	$(q)$(aarch64-ar) -rc $@ $(WRAPPER_DIR)/jmpvar.o $(WRAPPER_OBJS)
 
-$(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.i: ../../$(PLAT_DIR)/jmptbl.i
+$(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.i: ../../$(PLAT_DIR)/jmptbl.i | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  PRE     $@"
 	$(q)$(ROMLIB_GEN) pre --output $@ --deps $(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.d $<
 
-$(WRAPPER_SOURCES) &: $(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.i
+$(WRAPPER_SOURCES) &: $(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.i | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  WRP     $<"
 	$(q)$(ROMLIB_GEN) genwrappers --bti=$(ENABLE_BTI) -b $(WRAPPER_DIR) $<
 
-$(WRAPPER_OBJS): $(WRAPPER_DIR)/%.o: $(WRAPPER_DIR)/%.s
+$(WRAPPER_OBJS): $(WRAPPER_DIR)/%.o: $(WRAPPER_DIR)/%.s | $$(@D)/
 
-$(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.s: $(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.i
+$(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.s: $(BUILD_DIR)/jmptbl.i | $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo "  TBL     $@"
 	$(q)$(ROMLIB_GEN) gentbl --output $@ --bti=$(ENABLE_BTI) $<
 
diff --git a/make_helpers/build-rules.mk b/make_helpers/build-rules.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d325b3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/make_helpers/build-rules.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2024, Arm Limited and Contributors. All rights reserved.
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+#
+
+ifndef build-rules-mk
+        build-rules-mk := $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))
+
+        include $(dir $(build-rules-mk))common.mk
+        include $(dir $(build-rules-mk))utilities.mk
+
+        .SECONDEXPANSION:
+
+        %/:
+		$(s)echo '  MD      '$(call escape-shell,$(abspath $@))
+		$(q)mkdir -p $(call escape-shell,$@)
+endif
diff --git a/make_helpers/build_env.mk b/make_helpers/build_env.mk
index a545cd0..13acaae 100644
--- a/make_helpers/build_env.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/build_env.mk
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
     COPY                :=      $$(error "Replace COPY with call to SHELL_COPY or SHELL_COPY_TREE.")
     CP                  :=      $$(error "Replace CP with call to SHELL_COPY or SHELL_COPY_TREE.")
     DEL                 :=      $$(error "Replace DEL with call to SHELL_DELETE.")
-    MD                  :=      $$(error "Replace MD with call to MAKE_PREREQ_DIR.")
-    MKDIR               :=      $$(error "Replace MKDIR with call to MAKE_PREREQ_DIR.")
     RD                  :=      $$(error "Replace RD with call to SHELL_REMOVE_DIR.")
     RM                  :=      $$(error "Replace RM with call to SHELL_DELETE.")
     RMDIR               :=      $$(error "Replace RMDIR with call to SHELL_REMOVE_DIR.")
@@ -62,9 +60,6 @@
     ifndef SHELL_DELETE
         $(error "SHELL_DELETE not defined for build environment.")
     endif
-    ifndef MAKE_PREREQ_DIR
-        $(error "MAKE_PREREQ_DIR not defined for build environment.")
-    endif
     ifndef SHELL_REMOVE_DIR
         $(error "SHELL_REMOVE_DIR not defined for build environment.")
     endif
diff --git a/make_helpers/build_macros.mk b/make_helpers/build_macros.mk
index d27408c..7050916 100644
--- a/make_helpers/build_macros.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/build_macros.mk
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
 $(eval DEP := $(patsubst %.o,%.d,$(OBJ)))
 $(eval LIB := $(call uppercase, $(notdir $(1))))
 
-$(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | lib$(3)_dirs
+$(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  CC      $$<"
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-cc) $$($(LIB)_CFLAGS) $$(TF_CFLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
 
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@
 $(eval OBJ := $(1)/$(patsubst %.S,%.o,$(notdir $(2))))
 $(eval DEP := $(patsubst %.o,%.d,$(OBJ)))
 
-$(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | lib$(3)_dirs
+$(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  AS      $$<"
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-as) -x assembler-with-cpp $$(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) $$(ASFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
 
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@
 $(eval BL_CPPFLAGS := $($(call uppercase,$(3))_CPPFLAGS) $(addprefix -D,$(BL_DEFINES)) $(addprefix -I,$(BL_INCLUDE_DIRS)) $(PLAT_BL_COMMON_CPPFLAGS))
 $(eval BL_CFLAGS := $($(call uppercase,$(3))_CFLAGS) $(PLAT_BL_COMMON_CFLAGS))
 
-$(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $(3)_dirs
+$(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  CC      $$<"
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-cc) $$(LTO_CFLAGS) $$(TF_CFLAGS) $$(CFLAGS) $(BL_CPPFLAGS) $(BL_CFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
 
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@
 $(eval BL_CPPFLAGS := $($(call uppercase,$(3))_CPPFLAGS) $(addprefix -D,$(BL_DEFINES)) $(addprefix -I,$(BL_INCLUDE_DIRS)) $(PLAT_BL_COMMON_CPPFLAGS))
 $(eval BL_ASFLAGS := $($(call uppercase,$(3))_ASFLAGS) $(PLAT_BL_COMMON_ASFLAGS))
 
-$(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $(3)_dirs
+$(OBJ): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  AS      $$<"
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-as) -x assembler-with-cpp $$(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) $$(ASFLAGS) $(BL_CPPFLAGS) $(BL_ASFLAGS) $(MAKE_DEP) -c $$< -o $$@
 
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@
 $(eval BL_INCLUDE_DIRS := $($(call uppercase,$(3))_INCLUDE_DIRS) $(PLAT_BL_COMMON_INCLUDE_DIRS))
 $(eval BL_CPPFLAGS := $($(call uppercase,$(3))_CPPFLAGS) $(addprefix -D,$(BL_DEFINES)) $(addprefix -I,$(BL_INCLUDE_DIRS)) $(PLAT_BL_COMMON_CPPFLAGS))
 
-$(1): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $(3)_dirs
+$(1): $(2) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  PP      $$<"
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-cpp) -E $$(CPPFLAGS) $(BL_CPPFLAGS) $(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) -P -x assembler-with-cpp -D__LINKER__ $(MAKE_DEP) -o $$@ $$<
 
@@ -424,17 +424,6 @@
 
 .PHONY: libraries
 
-# MAKE_LIB_DIRS macro defines the target for the directory where
-# libraries are created
-define MAKE_LIB_DIRS
-        $(eval LIB_DIR    := ${BUILD_PLAT}/lib)
-        $(eval ROMLIB_DIR    := ${BUILD_PLAT}/romlib)
-        $(eval LIBWRAPPER_DIR := ${BUILD_PLAT}/libwrapper)
-        $(eval $(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${LIB_DIR},${BUILD_PLAT}))
-        $(eval $(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${ROMLIB_DIR},${BUILD_PLAT}))
-        $(eval $(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${LIBWRAPPER_DIR},${BUILD_PLAT}))
-endef
-
 # MAKE_LIB macro defines the targets and options to build each BL image.
 # Arguments:
 #   $(1) = Library name
@@ -445,11 +434,8 @@
         $(eval SOURCES    := $(LIB$(call uppercase,$(1))_SRCS))
         $(eval OBJS       := $(addprefix $(BUILD_DIR)/,$(call SOURCES_TO_OBJS,$(SOURCES))))
 
-$(eval $(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${BUILD_DIR},${BUILD_PLAT}))
 $(eval $(call MAKE_LIB_OBJS,$(BUILD_DIR),$(SOURCES),$(1)))
 
-.PHONY : lib${1}_dirs
-lib${1}_dirs: | ${BUILD_DIR} ${LIB_DIR}  ${ROMLIB_DIR} ${LIBWRAPPER_DIR}
 libraries: ${LIB_DIR}/lib$(1).a
 ifeq ($($(ARCH)-ld-id),arm-link)
 LDPATHS = --userlibpath=${LIB_DIR}
@@ -465,7 +451,7 @@
 
 all: ${LIB_DIR}/lib$(1).a
 
-${LIB_DIR}/lib$(1).a: $(OBJS)
+${LIB_DIR}/lib$(1).a: $(OBJS) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  AR      $$@"
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-ar) cr $$@ $$?
 endef
@@ -503,26 +489,6 @@
         $(eval LINKER_SCRIPT_SOURCES := $($(call uppercase,$(1))_LINKER_SCRIPT_SOURCES))
         $(eval LINKER_SCRIPTS := $(call linker_script_path,$(LINKER_SCRIPT_SOURCES)))
 
-        # We use sort only to get a list of unique object directory names.
-        # ordering is not relevant but sort removes duplicates.
-        $(eval TEMP_OBJ_DIRS := $(sort $(dir ${OBJS} ${DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT} ${LINKER_SCRIPTS})))
-        # The $(dir ) function leaves a trailing / on the directory names
-        # Rip off the / to match directory names with make rule targets.
-        $(eval OBJ_DIRS   := $(patsubst %/,%,$(TEMP_OBJ_DIRS)))
-
-# Create generators for object directory structure
-
-$(eval $(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${BUILD_DIR},${BUILD_PLAT}))
-
-$(eval $(foreach objd,${OBJ_DIRS},
-        $(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${objd},${BUILD_DIR})))
-
-.PHONY : ${1}_dirs
-
-# We use order-only prerequisites to ensure that directories are created,
-# but do not cause re-builds every time a file is written.
-${1}_dirs: | ${OBJ_DIRS}
-
 $(eval $(call MAKE_OBJS,$(BUILD_DIR),$(SOURCES),$(1)))
 
 # Generate targets to preprocess each required linker script
@@ -532,14 +498,14 @@
 $(eval BL_LDFLAGS := $($(call uppercase,$(1))_LDFLAGS))
 
 ifeq ($(USE_ROMLIB),1)
-$(ELF): romlib.bin
+$(ELF): romlib.bin | $$$$(@D)/
 endif
 
 # MODULE_OBJS can be assigned by vendors with different compiled
 # object file path, and prebuilt object file path.
 $(eval OBJS += $(MODULE_OBJS))
 
-$(ELF): $(OBJS) $(DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT) $(LINKER_SCRIPTS) | $(1)_dirs libraries $(BL_LIBS)
+$(ELF): $(OBJS) $(DEFAULT_LINKER_SCRIPT) $(LINKER_SCRIPTS) | $$$$(@D)/ libraries $(BL_LIBS)
 	$$(s)echo "  LD      $$@"
 ifeq ($($(ARCH)-ld-id),arm-link)
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-ld) -o $$@ $$(TF_LDFLAGS) $$(LDFLAGS) $(BL_LDFLAGS) --entry=${1}_entrypoint \
@@ -562,11 +528,11 @@
 	$(s)echo
 endif
 
-$(DUMP): $(ELF)
+$(DUMP): $(ELF) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  OD      $$@"
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-od) -dx $$< > $$@
 
-$(BIN): $(ELF)
+$(BIN): $(ELF) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  BIN     $$@"
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-oc) -O binary $$< $$@
 	$(s)echo
@@ -598,22 +564,6 @@
         $(notdir $(patsubst %.dts,%.dtb,$(filter %.dts,$(1))))
 endef
 
-# MAKE_FDT_DIRS macro creates the prerequisite directories that host the
-# FDT binaries
-#   $(1) = output directory
-#   $(2) = input dts
-define MAKE_FDT_DIRS
-        $(eval DTBS       := $(addprefix $(1)/,$(call SOURCES_TO_DTBS,$(2))))
-        $(eval TEMP_DTB_DIRS := $(sort $(dir ${DTBS})))
-        # The $(dir ) function leaves a trailing / on the directory names
-        # Rip off the / to match directory names with make rule targets.
-        $(eval DTB_DIRS   := $(patsubst %/,%,$(TEMP_DTB_DIRS)))
-
-$(eval $(foreach objd,${DTB_DIRS},$(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${objd},${BUILD_DIR})))
-
-fdt_dirs: ${DTB_DIRS}
-endef
-
 # MAKE_DTB generate the Flattened device tree binary
 #   $(1) = output directory
 #   $(2) = input dts
@@ -628,12 +578,12 @@
 # Dependencies of the DT compilation on its pre-compiled DTS
 $(eval DTBDEP := $(patsubst %.dtb,%.d,$(DOBJ)))
 
-$(DPRE): $(2) | fdt_dirs
+$(DPRE): $(2) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  CPP     $$<"
 	$(eval DTBS       := $(addprefix $(1)/,$(call SOURCES_TO_DTBS,$(2))))
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-cpp) -E $$(TF_CFLAGS_$(ARCH)) $$(DTC_CPPFLAGS) -MT $(DTBS) -MMD -MF $(DTSDEP) -o $(DPRE) $$<
 
-$(DOBJ): $(DPRE) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | fdt_dirs
+$(DOBJ): $(DPRE) $(filter-out %.d,$(MAKEFILE_LIST)) | $$$$(@D)/
 	$$(s)echo "  DTC     $$<"
 	$$(q)$($(ARCH)-dtc) $$(DTC_FLAGS) -d $(DTBDEP) -o $$@ $$<
 
@@ -651,8 +601,6 @@
         $(and $(REMAIN),$(error FDT_SOURCES contain non-DTS files: $(REMAIN)))
         $(eval $(foreach obj,$(DOBJS),$(call MAKE_DTB,$(1),$(obj))))
 
-        $(eval $(call MAKE_FDT_DIRS,$(1),$(2)))
-
-dtbs: $(DTBS)
+dtbs: $(addprefix $(1)/,$(call SOURCES_TO_DTBS,$(2)))
 all: dtbs
 endef
diff --git a/make_helpers/unix.mk b/make_helpers/unix.mk
index 4fd819a..fa7722a 100644
--- a/make_helpers/unix.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/unix.mk
@@ -38,18 +38,6 @@
 	-$(q)rm -rf  ${1}
     endef
 
-    # ${1} is the directory to be generated.
-    # ${2} is optional, and allows a prerequisite to be specified.
-    # Do nothing if $1 == $2, to ignore self dependencies.
-    define MAKE_PREREQ_DIR
-        ifneq (${1},${2})
-
-${1} : ${2}
-	$(q)mkdir -p  "${1}"
-
-        endif
-    endef
-
     define SHELL_REMOVE_DIR
 	-$(q)rm -rf  "${1}"
     endef
diff --git a/make_helpers/windows.mk b/make_helpers/windows.mk
index 2f5d51b..c24aa08 100644
--- a/make_helpers/windows.mk
+++ b/make_helpers/windows.mk
@@ -47,19 +47,6 @@
 	$(eval $(foreach filename,$(wildcard ${1}),$(call DELETE_IF_THERE,${filename})))
     endef
 
-    # ${1} is the directory to be generated.
-    # ${2} is optional, and allows prerequisites to be specified.
-    # Do nothing if $1 == $2, to ignore self dependencies.
-    define MAKE_PREREQ_DIR
-        ifneq (${1},${2})
-
-${1} : ${2}
-	$(eval tmp_dir:=$(subst /,\,${1}))
-	-@if not exist "$(tmp_dir)"  mkdir "${tmp_dir}"
-
-        endif
-    endef
-
     # ${1} is the directory to be removed.
     define SHELL_REMOVE_DIR
 	$(eval tmp_dir:=$(subst /,\,${1}))
diff --git a/plat/imx/imx7/common/imx7.mk b/plat/imx/imx7/common/imx7.mk
index 950d8fd..2bda3a5 100644
--- a/plat/imx/imx7/common/imx7.mk
+++ b/plat/imx/imx7/common/imx7.mk
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@
 ROTPK_HASH          = $(BUILD_PLAT)/rotpk_sha256.bin
 
 $(eval $(call add_define_val,ROTPK_HASH,'"$(ROTPK_HASH)"'))
-$(eval $(call MAKE_LIB_DIRS))
 
 $(BUILD_PLAT)/bl2/imx7_rotpk.o: $(ROTPK_HASH)
 
diff --git a/plat/imx/imx8m/imx8mm/platform.mk b/plat/imx/imx8m/imx8mm/platform.mk
index 40554c3..f0cdb3e 100644
--- a/plat/imx/imx8m/imx8mm/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/imx/imx8m/imx8mm/platform.mk
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@
 ROTPK_HASH          = $(BUILD_PLAT)/rotpk_sha256.bin
 
 $(eval $(call add_define_val,ROTPK_HASH,'"$(ROTPK_HASH)"'))
-$(eval $(call MAKE_LIB_DIRS))
 
 $(BUILD_PLAT)/bl2/imx8mm_rotpk.o: $(ROTPK_HASH)
 
diff --git a/plat/imx/imx8m/imx8mp/platform.mk b/plat/imx/imx8m/imx8mp/platform.mk
index 5f4ddee..5df598c 100644
--- a/plat/imx/imx8m/imx8mp/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/imx/imx8m/imx8mp/platform.mk
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@
 ROTPK_HASH          = $(BUILD_PLAT)/rotpk_sha256.bin
 
 $(eval $(call add_define_val,ROTPK_HASH,'"$(ROTPK_HASH)"'))
-$(eval $(call MAKE_LIB_DIRS))
 
 $(BUILD_PLAT)/bl2/imx8mp_rotpk.o: $(ROTPK_HASH)
 
diff --git a/plat/marvell/armada/a3k/common/a3700_common.mk b/plat/marvell/armada/a3k/common/a3700_common.mk
index 18f5430..e8f892d 100644
--- a/plat/marvell/armada/a3k/common/a3700_common.mk
+++ b/plat/marvell/armada/a3k/common/a3700_common.mk
@@ -167,10 +167,9 @@
 	$(if $(shell git -C $(value MV_DDR_PATH) rev-parse --show-cdup 2>&1),$(error "'MV_DDR_PATH=$(value MV_DDR_PATH)' was specified, but '$(value MV_DDR_PATH)' does not contain valid mv-ddr-marvell git repository"))
 	$(q)$(MAKE) --no-print-directory -C $(WTP) MV_DDR_PATH=$(MV_DDR_PATH) DDR_TOPOLOGY=$(DDR_TOPOLOGY) mv_ddr
 
-$(BUILD_PLAT)/$(UART_IMAGE): $(BUILD_PLAT)/$(BOOT_IMAGE) $(BUILD_PLAT)/wtmi.bin $(TBB) $(TIMBUILD) $(TIMDDRTOOL)
+$(BUILD_PLAT)/$(UART_IMAGE): $(BUILD_PLAT)/$(BOOT_IMAGE) $(BUILD_PLAT)/wtmi.bin $(TBB) $(TIMBUILD) $(TIMDDRTOOL) | $(BUILD_PLAT)/$(BUILD_UART)/ $$(@D)/
 	$(s)echo
 	$(s)echo "Building uart images"
-	$(q)mkdir -p $(BUILD_PLAT)/$(BUILD_UART)
 	$(q)cp -a $(BUILD_PLAT)/wtmi.bin $(BUILD_PLAT)/$(BUILD_UART)/wtmi.bin
 	$(q)cp -a $(BUILD_PLAT)/$(BOOT_IMAGE) $(BUILD_PLAT)/$(BUILD_UART)/$(BOOT_IMAGE)
 	$(q)cd $(BUILD_PLAT)/$(BUILD_UART) && $(TIMBUILD) $(TIMBLDUARTARGS)
diff --git a/plat/mediatek/build_helpers/mtk_build_helpers.mk b/plat/mediatek/build_helpers/mtk_build_helpers.mk
index a497049..0cb2014 100644
--- a/plat/mediatek/build_helpers/mtk_build_helpers.mk
+++ b/plat/mediatek/build_helpers/mtk_build_helpers.mk
@@ -71,15 +71,6 @@
         $(eval SOURCES    := $(2))
         $(eval OBJS_TEMP  := $(addprefix $(BUILD_DIR)/$(MODULE)/,$(call SOURCES_TO_OBJS,$(SOURCES))))
         $(eval MODULE_OBJS += $(OBJS_TEMP))
-        # We use sort only to get a list of unique object directory names.
-        # ordering is not relevant but sort removes duplicates.
-        $(eval TEMP_OBJ_DIRS := $(sort $(dir ${OBJS_TEMP} ${LINKERFILE})))
-        # The $(dir ) function leaves a trailing / on the directory names
-        # Rip off the / to match directory names with make rule targets.
-        $(eval OBJ_DIRS := $(patsubst %/,%,$(TEMP_OBJ_DIRS)))
-
-$(eval $(foreach objd,${OBJ_DIRS},$(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${objd},${BUILD_DIR})))
-${3}_dirs: | ${OBJ_DIRS}
 
 $(eval $(call MAKE_OBJS,$(BUILD_DIR)/$(MODULE),$(SOURCES),${3}))
 
diff --git a/plat/nxp/soc-lx2160a/ddr_fip.mk b/plat/nxp/soc-lx2160a/ddr_fip.mk
index e717cbc..c303ced 100644
--- a/plat/nxp/soc-lx2160a/ddr_fip.mk
+++ b/plat/nxp/soc-lx2160a/ddr_fip.mk
@@ -38,8 +38,6 @@
     DDR_DMEM_RDIMM_2D	:=	${DDR_PHY_BIN_PATH}/ddr4_rdimm2d_pmu_train_dmem.bin
 endif
 
-$(shell mkdir -p '${BUILD_PLAT}')
-
 ifeq (${DDR_FIP_NAME},)
 ifeq (${TRUSTED_BOARD_BOOT},1)
 	DDR_FIP_NAME	:= ddr_fip_sec.bin
diff --git a/plat/nxp/soc-lx2160a/ddr_tbbr.mk b/plat/nxp/soc-lx2160a/ddr_tbbr.mk
index deb475b..836a431 100644
--- a/plat/nxp/soc-lx2160a/ddr_tbbr.mk
+++ b/plat/nxp/soc-lx2160a/ddr_tbbr.mk
@@ -39,8 +39,6 @@
 # Pass the non-volatile counters to the cert_create tool
 $(eval $(call CERT_ADD_CMD_OPT,${TFW_NVCTR_VAL},--tfw-nvctr,DDR_))
 
-$(shell mkdir -p '${BUILD_PLAT}')
-
 ifeq (${DDR_KEY},)
 DDR_KEY=${BUILD_PLAT}/ddr.pem
 endif
diff --git a/plat/rockchip/rk3399/platform.mk b/plat/rockchip/rk3399/platform.mk
index 2394dce..9d0e215 100644
--- a/plat/rockchip/rk3399/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/rockchip/rk3399/platform.mk
@@ -104,9 +104,8 @@
 ${BUILD_PLAT}/bl31/pmu_fw.o: CCACHE_EXTRAFILES=$(RK3399M0FW):$(RK3399M0PMUFW)
 ${RK_PLAT_SOC}/drivers/pmu/pmu_fw.S: $(RK3399M0FW)
 
-$(eval $(call MAKE_PREREQ_DIR,${BUILD_M0},${BUILD_PLAT}))
 .PHONY: $(RK3399M0FW)
-$(RK3399M0FW): | ${BUILD_M0}
+$(RK3399M0FW): | $$(@D)/
 	$(MAKE) -C ${RK_PLAT_SOC}/drivers/m0 BUILD=$(abspath ${BUILD_PLAT}/m0)
 
 # Do not enable SVE
diff --git a/plat/st/common/common_rules.mk b/plat/st/common/common_rules.mk
index 8b81c7f..fba7783 100644
--- a/plat/st/common/common_rules.mk
+++ b/plat/st/common/common_rules.mk
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 	fi
 
 # Create DTB file for BL2
-${BUILD_PLAT}/fdts/%-bl2.dts: fdts/%.dts fdts/${BL2_DTSI} | ${BUILD_PLAT} fdt_dirs
+${BUILD_PLAT}/fdts/%-bl2.dts: fdts/%.dts fdts/${BL2_DTSI} | $$(@D)/
 	$(q)echo '#include "$(patsubst fdts/%,%,$<)"' > $@
 	$(q)echo '#include "${BL2_DTSI}"' >> $@
 
diff --git a/plat/st/stm32mp1/platform.mk b/plat/st/stm32mp1/platform.mk
index a1f44e8..138f16c 100644
--- a/plat/st/stm32mp1/platform.mk
+++ b/plat/st/stm32mp1/platform.mk
@@ -255,11 +255,11 @@
 
 ifeq ($(AARCH32_SP),sp_min)
 # Create DTB file for BL32
-${BUILD_PLAT}/fdts/%-bl32.dts: fdts/%.dts fdts/${BL32_DTSI} | ${BUILD_PLAT} fdt_dirs
+${BUILD_PLAT}/fdts/%-bl32.dts: fdts/%.dts fdts/${BL32_DTSI} | $$(@D)/
 	$(q)echo '#include "$(patsubst fdts/%,%,$<)"' > $@
 	$(q)echo '#include "${BL32_DTSI}"' >> $@
 
-${BUILD_PLAT}/fdts/%-bl32.dtb: ${BUILD_PLAT}/fdts/%-bl32.dts
+${BUILD_PLAT}/fdts/%-bl32.dtb: ${BUILD_PLAT}/fdts/%-bl32.dts | $$(@D)/
 endif
 
 include plat/st/common/common_rules.mk
diff --git a/tools/renesas/rcar_layout_create/makefile b/tools/renesas/rcar_layout_create/makefile
index 115ca5c..7a64b19 100644
--- a/tools/renesas/rcar_layout_create/makefile
+++ b/tools/renesas/rcar_layout_create/makefile
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 toolchains := aarch64
 
+include ../../../make_helpers/build-rules.mk
 include ../../../make_helpers/common.mk
 include ../../../make_helpers/toolchain.mk
 
@@ -94,29 +95,29 @@
 # Linker
 ###################################################
 
-$(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0)
+$(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-oc) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec
 
-$(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0)
+$(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-oc) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin
 
-$(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0): $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0)
+$(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0): $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-ld) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0) -nostdlib -T $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0) -o $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) -Wl,-Map $(FILE_NAME_SA0).map
 
-$(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6)
+$(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-oc) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec
 
-$(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6)
+$(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-oc) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin
 
-$(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6): $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6)
+$(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6): $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-ld) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6) -nostdlib -T $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6) -o $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) -Wl,-Map $(FILE_NAME_SA6).map
 
 ###################################################
 # Compile
 ###################################################
 
-%.o: %.c
+%.o: %.c | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-cc) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
 
 .PHONY: clean
diff --git a/tools/renesas/rzg_layout_create/makefile b/tools/renesas/rzg_layout_create/makefile
index 1e8f7ff..936420d 100644
--- a/tools/renesas/rzg_layout_create/makefile
+++ b/tools/renesas/rzg_layout_create/makefile
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 toolchains := aarch64
 
+include ../../../make_helpers/build-rules.mk
 include ../../../make_helpers/common.mk
 include ../../../make_helpers/toolchain.mk
 
@@ -91,29 +92,29 @@
 # Linker
 ###################################################
 
-$(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0)
+$(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-oc) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).srec
 
-$(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0)
+$(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-oc) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) $(FILE_NAME_SA0).bin
 
-$(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0): $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0)
+$(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0): $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-ld) $(OBJ_FILE_SA0) -nostdlib -T $(MEMORY_DEF_SA0) -o $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA0) -Wl,-Map $(FILE_NAME_SA0).map
 
-$(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6)
+$(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-oc) -O srec --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).srec
 
-$(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6)
+$(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin: $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-oc) -O binary --adjust-vma=$(RCAR_VMA_ADJUST_ADDR) --srec-forceS3 $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) $(FILE_NAME_SA6).bin
 
-$(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6): $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6)
+$(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6): $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6) | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-ld) $(OBJ_FILE_SA6) -nostdlib -T $(MEMORY_DEF_SA6) -o $(OUTPUT_FILE_SA6) -Wl,-Map $(FILE_NAME_SA6).map
 
 ###################################################
 # Compile
 ###################################################
 
-%.o: %.c
+%.o: %.c | $$(@D)/
 	$(aarch64-cc) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) -c -o $@ $<
 
 .PHONY: clean