diff --git a/gio/tests/meson.build b/gio/tests/meson.build
index bc436fb79..0146a66a7 100644
--- a/gio/tests/meson.build
+++ b/gio/tests/meson.build
@@ -810,8 +810,12 @@ if not meson.is_cross_build()
     output : ['gresource-big-test.txt'],
     command : [python, '@INPUT0@', '@OUTPUT@'])
 
+  # referenced by test.gresource.xml
+  test_generated_txt = fs.copyfile('test1.txt', 'test-generated.txt')
+
   test_gresource = custom_target('test.gresource',
     input : 'test.gresource.xml',
+    depends : test_generated_txt,
     output : 'test.gresource',
     command : [glib_compile_resources,
                compiler_type,
@@ -889,9 +893,6 @@ if not meson.is_cross_build()
                '--manual-register',
                '@INPUT@'])
 
-  # referenced by test.gresource.xml
-  test_generated_txt = fs.copyfile('test1.txt', 'test-generated.txt')
-
   resources_extra_sources = [
     test_gresource,
     test_resources_c,