diff --git a/emul/Makefile b/emul/Makefile
index c196626..947f37d 100644
--- a/emul/Makefile
+++ b/emul/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-TARGETS = forth stage blkfs
+TARGETS = forth stage 
 OBJS = emul.o libz80/libz80.o
 BLKPACK = ../tools/blkpack
 BLKUNPACK = ../tools/blkunpack
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ $(BLKPACK):
 .PHONY: $(BLKUNPACK)
 $(BLKUNPACK): $(BLKPACK)
 
-stage: stage.c $(OBJS)
+stage: stage.c $(OBJS) blkfs
 	$(CC) stage.c $(OBJS) -o $@
 
 blkfs: $(BLKPACK)
 	$(BLKPACK) ../blk > $@
 
-forth: forth.c $(OBJS)
+forth: forth.c $(OBJS) blkfs
 	$(CC) forth.c $(OBJS) -lncurses -o $@
 
 libz80/libz80.o: libz80/z80.c
diff --git a/recipes/rc2014/Makefile b/recipes/rc2014/Makefile
index 94a0b9d..3e7ccda 100644
--- a/recipes/rc2014/Makefile
+++ b/recipes/rc2014/Makefile
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ all: $(TARGET)
 $(TARGET): xcomp.fs $(STAGE)
 	cat xcomp.fs | $(STAGE) > $@
 
-$(SLATEST):
-	$(MAKE) -C $(BASEDIR)/tools
+$(STAGE):
+	$(MAKE) -C $(EDIR) stage
 
 $(EMUL):
 	$(MAKE) -C ${@:%/classic=%}
diff --git a/recipes/sms/Makefile b/recipes/sms/Makefile
index 4fc7a0c..2adb2e5 100644
--- a/recipes/sms/Makefile
+++ b/recipes/sms/Makefile
@@ -1,13 +1,17 @@
 TARGET = os.bin
-STAGE = ../../emul/stage
-EMUL = ../../emul/hw/sms/sms
+EDIR = ../../emul
+STAGE = $(EDIR)/stage
+EMUL = $(EDIR)/hw/sms/sms
 
 .PHONY: all
 all: $(TARGET) 
 $(TARGET): xcomp.fs $(STAGE)
 	cat xcomp.fs | $(STAGE) > $@
 
-os.sms: $(TARGET)
+$(STAGE):
+	$(MAKE) -C $(EDIR) stage
+
+os.sms: $(TARGET) $(STAGE)
 	dd if=$(TARGET) bs=32752 conv=sync | cat - sega.bin > $@
 
 $(EMUL):
diff --git a/recipes/sms/README.md b/recipes/sms/README.md
index bcd624c..8a8a525 100644
--- a/recipes/sms/README.md
+++ b/recipes/sms/README.md
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ Of course, that's not a fun way to enter text, but using the D-Pad is the
 easiest way to get started which doesn't require soldering. Your next step after
 that would be to [build a PS/2 keyboard adapter!](kbd/README.md)
 
+## Slow initialization in emulation
+
+When running under the emulator, video initialization is slow, it takes several
+seconds. It's the emulator's fault. On real hardware, it's not as slow.
+
 [smspower]: http://www.smspower.org
 [everdrive]: https://krikzz.com
 [zasm]: ../../tools/emul
diff --git a/recipes/ti84/Makefile b/recipes/ti84/Makefile
index bce38c9..30c0bc5 100644
--- a/recipes/ti84/Makefile
+++ b/recipes/ti84/Makefile
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ BASEDIR = ../..
 FDIR = $(BASEDIR)/forth
 EDIR = $(BASEDIR)/emul
 STAGE = $(EDIR)/stage
-EMUL = $(BASEDIR)/emul/hw/ti/ti84
+EMUL = $(EDIR)/hw/ti/ti84
 MKTIUPGRADE = mktiupgrade
 
 .PHONY: all
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ all: $(TARGET)
 $(TARGET): xcomp.fs $(STAGE)
 	cat xcomp.fs | $(STAGE) > $@
 
+$(STAGE):
+	$(MAKE) -C $(EDIR) stage
+
 $(EMUL):
 	$(MAKE) -C ${@:%/ti84=%}
 
diff --git a/recipes/trs80/Makefile b/recipes/trs80/Makefile
index 9292429..0ddcd85 100644
--- a/recipes/trs80/Makefile
+++ b/recipes/trs80/Makefile
@@ -6,3 +6,6 @@ STAGE = $(EDIR)/stage
 all: $(TARGET) 
 $(TARGET): xcomp.fs $(STAGE)
 	cat xcomp.fs | $(STAGE) > $@
+
+$(STAGE):
+	$(MAKE) -C $(EDIR) stage