diff --git a/build/_sandbox.py b/build/_sandbox.py
index 2450c537..f7667a68 100644
--- a/build/_sandbox.py
+++ b/build/_sandbox.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def main():
                 print("link", sf)
             os.makedirs(dirname(sf), exist_ok=True)
             try:
-                os.link(abspath(f), sf)
+                os.symlink(abspath(f), sf)
             except PermissionError:
                 shutil.copy(f, sf)
 
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ def main():
             df = dirname(f)
             if df:
                 os.makedirs(df, exist_ok=True)
+
+            try:
+                os.remove(f)
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                pass
             os.rename(sf, f)
 
 
diff --git a/build/ab.py b/build/ab.py
index bbf947a6..9870400e 100644
--- a/build/ab.py
+++ b/build/ab.py
@@ -501,15 +501,11 @@ def emit_rule(self, ins, outs, cmds=[], label=None):
 
         emit(f"OUTS_{outsn}", "=", *fouts, into=lines)
         emit(f"INS_{insn}", "=", *fins, into=lines)
-        emit(
-            name,
-            ":",
-            hashfile,
-            f"$(OUTS_{outsn})",
-            into=lines,
-        )
-        emit(f"$(OUTS_{outsn})", ":", hashfile, into=lines)
-        emit(hashfile, ":", f"$(INS_{insn})", into=lines)
+        emit(name, ":", f"$(OUTS_{outsn})")
+        emit(hashfile, ":")
+        emit(f"\t@mkdir -p {self.dir}")
+        emit(f"\t@touch {hashfile}")
+        emit(f"$(OUTS_{outsn})", "&:",f"$(INS_{insn})", hashfile, into=lines)
 
         if label:
             emit("\t$(hide)", "$(ECHO) $(PROGRESSINFO)" + label, into=lines)
@@ -537,9 +533,6 @@ def emit_rule(self, ins, outs, cmds=[], label=None):
         emit(name, ":", *fins, into=lines)
 
     outputFp.write("".join(lines))
-
-    if outs:
-        emit(f"\t$(hide) touch {hashfile}")
     emit("")