diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 51ef603b8..121663453 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1352,13 +1352,15 @@ def build_launcher(args: Options, launcher_dir: str = '.', bundle_type: str = 's
     os.makedirs(launcher_dir, exist_ok=True)
     os.makedirs(build_dir, exist_ok=True)
     objects = []
+    headers = glob.glob('kitty/launcher/*.h')
     cppflags.append('-DKITTY_VERSION="' + '.'.join(map(str, version)) + '"')
     for src in ('kitty/launcher/main.c', 'kitty/launcher/single-instance.c', 'kitty/launcher/cmdline.c'):
         obj = os.path.join(build_dir, src.replace('/', '-').replace('.c', '.o'))
         objects.append(obj)
         cmd = env.cc + cppflags + cflags + ['-c', src, '-o', obj]
         key = CompileKey(src, os.path.basename(obj))
-        args.compilation_database.add_command(f'Compiling {emphasis(src)} ...', cmd, partial(newer, obj, src), key=key, keyfile=src)
+        args.compilation_database.add_command(
+            f'Compiling {emphasis(src)} ...', cmd, partial(newer, obj, src, *dependecies_for(src, obj, headers)), key=key, keyfile=src)
     dest = kitty_exe = os.path.join(launcher_dir, 'kitty')
     link_targets.append(os.path.abspath(dest))
     desc = f'Linking {emphasis("launcher")} ...'