diff --git a/core/main.mk b/core/main.mk
index 48b4b5e8bb..6c4977e8a6 100644
--- a/core/main.mk
+++ b/core/main.mk
@@ -1717,7 +1717,7 @@ else ifneq ($(TARGET_BUILD_APPS),)
     # If they used the magic goal "all" then build all apps in the source tree.
     unbundled_build_modules := $(foreach m,$(sort $(ALL_MODULES)),$(if $(filter APPS,$(ALL_MODULES.$(m).CLASS)),$(m)))
   else
-    unbundled_build_modules := $(TARGET_BUILD_APPS)
+    unbundled_build_modules := $(sort $(TARGET_BUILD_APPS))
   endif
 
   # Dist the installed files if they exist.