diff --git a/test/zephyr/Makefile b/test/zephyr/Makefile
index e678be86..9a2b6d4b 100644
--- a/test/zephyr/Makefile
+++ b/test/zephyr/Makefile
@@ -6,26 +6,32 @@ REVNO ?= --mr v3.7-branch
 YQ ?= $(DOCKER) --user="root" mikefarah/yq
 
 all: zephyr $(PROJECTS)
-	rm -rf build
+	echo
 
 $(PROJECTS): FORCE
 	$(DOCKER) -e ZEPHYR_BASE=$(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr $(IMAGE) west build -b $(ZBNAME) -p auto $(realpath $@)
+	rm -rf build
 
 FORCE:
 
-zephyr: init minify update
+zephyr: $(ZEPHYR_DIR)/modules/hal/cmsis
 
-init: FORCE
-	test -d $(ZEPHYR_DIR) || ( mkdir -p $(ZEPHYR_DIR) ; \
-	$(DOCKER) $(IMAGE) west init $(REVNO) $(ZEPHYR_DIR))
-
-update: FORCE
+$(ZEPHYR_DIR)/modules/hal/cmsis: $(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr/west.yml
 	$(DOCKER) $(IMAGE) /bin/sh -c 'cd $(ZEPHYR_DIR) && west update'
+	touch $(ZEPHYR_DIR)/modules/hal/cmsis
 
-minify: FORCE
-	$(YQ) -i eval '(.manifest.defaults, .manifest.remotes, .manifest.projects[] | select(.name == "cmsis" or .name == "hal_stm32" or .name == "hal_nxp" or .name == "hal_espressif" or .name == "hal_rpi_pico" or .name == "segger" or .name == "mbedtls" or .name == "mcuboot" or .name == "picolibc" | del(.null) ), .manifest.self) as $$i ireduce({};setpath($$i | path; $$i)) | del(.manifest.projects.[].null) | del(..|select(length==0))' $(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr/west.yml
+# use '(YQ) -i eval' for in-place minify; this allows proper dependency processing and update. ALWAYS include "cmsis"...
+$(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr/west.yml: $(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr/west.yml.orig
+	$(YQ) eval '(.manifest.defaults, .manifest.remotes, .manifest.projects[] | select(.name == "cmsis" or .name == "hal_stm32" or .name == "hal_nxp" or .name == "hal_espressif" or .name == "hal_rpi_pico" or .name == "segger" or .name == "mbedtls" or .name == "mcuboot" or .name == "picolibc" | del(.null) ), .manifest.self) as $$i ireduce({};setpath($$i | path; $$i)) | del(.manifest.projects.[].null) | del(..|select(length==0))' $(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr/west.yml.orig > $(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr/west.yml
+
+$(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr/west.yml.orig: FORCE
+	test -d $(ZEPHYR_DIR) || \
+	( mkdir -p $(ZEPHYR_DIR) && \
+	$(DOCKER) $(IMAGE) west init $(REVNO) $(ZEPHYR_DIR) && \
+	mv $(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr/west.yml $(ZEPHYR_DIR)/zephyr/west.yml.orig )
 
 
+# Wizard-style board name --> Zephyr board name; ZBNAME = table[BOARD]
 Z_f207 := nucleo_f207zg
 Z_f429 := nucleo_f429zi
 Z_f746 := nucleo_f746zg