diff --git a/common.mk b/common.mk
index f6bc19c1..5e0e2fcd 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/common.mk
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@ $(SFC_MFC_TARGETS) &: $(TAPEOUT_CLASSPATH_TARGETS) $(FIRRTL_FILE) $(FINAL_ANNO_F
 		$(SFC_FIRRTL_FILE)
 	-mv $(SFC_SMEMS_CONF) $(MFC_SMEMS_CONF) 2> /dev/null
 	$(SED) -i 's/.*/& /' $(MFC_SMEMS_CONF) # need trailing space for SFC macrocompiler
+	touch $(MFC_BB_MODS_FILELIST) # if there are no BB's then the file might not be generated, instead always generate it
 # DOC include end: FirrtlCompiler
 
 $(TOP_MODS_FILELIST) $(MODEL_MODS_FILELIST) $(ALL_MODS_FILELIST) $(BB_MODS_FILELIST) $(MFC_MODEL_HRCHY_JSON_UNIQUIFIED) &: $(MFC_MODEL_HRCHY_JSON) $(MFC_TOP_HRCHY_JSON) $(MFC_FILELIST) $(MFC_BB_MODS_FILELIST)