diff --git a/Rules.mk b/Rules.mk
index 033086aa4..fd9b50d8e 100644
--- a/Rules.mk
+++ b/Rules.mk
@@ -24,9 +24,13 @@ include $(dir)/Rules.mk
 dir := cmd/ipfs
 include $(dir)/Rules.mk
 
-# has to be after cmd/ipfs due to PATH
-dir := coverage
-include $(dir)/Rules.mk
+# include this file only if coverage target is executed
+# it is quite expensive
+ifneq ($(filter coverage% clean,$(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
+	# has to be after cmd/ipfs due to PATH
+	dir := coverage
+	include $(dir)/Rules.mk
+endif
 
 dir := namesys/pb
 include $(dir)/Rules.mk
diff --git a/coverage/Rules.mk b/coverage/Rules.mk
index 64bd0db6f..6ffaa7ff0 100644
--- a/coverage/Rules.mk
+++ b/coverage/Rules.mk
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ $(d)/ipfs: $(d)/main
 
 CLEAN += $(d)/ipfs
 
-ifneq ($(filter coverage,$(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
+ifneq ($(filter coverage%,$(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
 	# this is quite hacky but it is best way I could fiture out
 	DEPS_test/sharness += cmd/ipfs/ipfs-test-cover $(d)/coverage_deps $(d)/ipfs
 endif