diff --git a/makefiles/consts.mk b/makefiles/consts.mk
index c1306ac..8961b3a 100644
--- a/makefiles/consts.mk
+++ b/makefiles/consts.mk
@@ -31,13 +31,21 @@
 export quote-double := $(null)"$(null)#"
 
 # [DEBUG] make {target} HIDE=
-HIDE        ?= @
+HIDE           ?= @
 
 env-clean      ?= /usr/bin/env --ignore-environment
 xargs-n1       := xargs -0 -t -n1 --no-run-if-empty
 xargs-n1-clean := $(env-clean) $(xargs-n1)
 
 ## -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+## Intent: NOP command for targets whose dependencies do all heavy lifting
+## -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+## usage: foo bar tans
+## <tab>$(nop-command)
+## -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+nop-cmd        := :
+
+## -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## Default shell:
 ##   o set -e            enable error checking
 ##   o set -u            report undefined errors