diff --git a/programs/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/CMakeLists.txt
index 0633aa6..aaf93ba 100644
--- a/programs/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+set(programs_target "${MBEDTLS_TARGET_PREFIX}programs")
+add_custom_target(${programs_target})
+
 add_subdirectory(aes)
 add_subdirectory(cipher)
 if (NOT WIN32)
diff --git a/programs/aes/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/aes/CMakeLists.txt
index ccb8db5..4d4c890 100644
--- a/programs/aes/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/aes/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 set(executables
     crypt_and_hash
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables})
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables)
     add_executable(${exe} ${exe}.c $<TARGET_OBJECTS:mbedtls_test>)
diff --git a/programs/cipher/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/cipher/CMakeLists.txt
index e925524..effaf8a 100644
--- a/programs/cipher/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/cipher/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 set(executables
     cipher_aead_demo
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables})
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables)
     add_executable(${exe} ${exe}.c $<TARGET_OBJECTS:mbedtls_test>)
diff --git a/programs/fuzz/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/fuzz/CMakeLists.txt
index c389029..f5358ff 100644
--- a/programs/fuzz/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/fuzz/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     fuzz_x509csr
     fuzz_pkcs7
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables_no_common_c})
 
 set(executables_with_common_c
     fuzz_privkey
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@
     fuzz_dtlsserver
     fuzz_server
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables_with_common_c})
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables_no_common_c executables_with_common_c)
 
diff --git a/programs/hash/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/hash/CMakeLists.txt
index fcacf3b..0ad974d 100644
--- a/programs/hash/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/hash/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     hello
     md_hmac_demo
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables})
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables)
     add_executable(${exe} ${exe}.c $<TARGET_OBJECTS:mbedtls_test>)
diff --git a/programs/pkey/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/pkey/CMakeLists.txt
index cd0387a..defbe28 100644
--- a/programs/pkey/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/pkey/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
     dh_client
     dh_server
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables_mbedtls})
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables_mbedtls)
     add_executable(${exe} ${exe}.c $<TARGET_OBJECTS:mbedtls_test>)
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@
     rsa_verify
     rsa_verify_pss
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables_mbedcrypto})
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables_mbedcrypto)
     add_executable(${exe} ${exe}.c $<TARGET_OBJECTS:mbedtls_test>)
diff --git a/programs/psa/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/psa/CMakeLists.txt
index a8e4b0e..a6933a6 100644
--- a/programs/psa/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/psa/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
     psa_constant_names
     psa_hash
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables})
 
 if(GEN_FILES)
     add_custom_command(
diff --git a/programs/random/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/random/CMakeLists.txt
index 5940395..f0c7825 100644
--- a/programs/random/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/random/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
     gen_entropy
     gen_random_ctr_drbg
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables})
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables)
     add_executable(${exe} ${exe}.c $<TARGET_OBJECTS:mbedtls_test>)
diff --git a/programs/ssl/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/ssl/CMakeLists.txt
index ec2c86f..f4fb477 100644
--- a/programs/ssl/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/ssl/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     ssl_server
     ssl_server2
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables})
 
 if(GEN_FILES)
     # Inform CMake that the following file will be generated as part of the build
diff --git a/programs/test/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/test/CMakeLists.txt
index 0d43ffd..e3db8dd 100644
--- a/programs/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@
     selftest
     udp_proxy
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables_libs})
 
 set(executables_mbedcrypto
     benchmark
     query_compile_time_config
     zeroize
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables_mbedcrypto})
 
 if(TEST_CPP)
     set(cpp_dummy_build_cpp "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/cpp_dummy_build.cpp")
diff --git a/programs/util/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/util/CMakeLists.txt
index cb6bc3d..264d941 100644
--- a/programs/util/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/util/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
     pem2der
     strerror
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables})
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables)
     add_executable(${exe} ${exe}.c $<TARGET_OBJECTS:mbedtls_test>)
diff --git a/programs/x509/CMakeLists.txt b/programs/x509/CMakeLists.txt
index 43437f0..a09813c 100644
--- a/programs/x509/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/programs/x509/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     load_roots
     req_app
 )
+add_dependencies(${programs_target} ${executables})
 
 foreach(exe IN LISTS executables)
     add_executable(${exe} ${exe}.c $<TARGET_OBJECTS:mbedtls_test>)