diff --git a/tools/cabana/SConscript b/tools/cabana/SConscript
index 3ff4862800..52fe9e346d 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/SConscript
+++ b/tools/cabana/SConscript
@@ -17,10 +17,13 @@ cabana_env = qt_env.Clone()
 
 prev_moc_path = cabana_env['QT_MOCHPREFIX']
 cabana_env['QT_MOCHPREFIX'] = os.path.dirname(prev_moc_path) + '/cabana/moc_'
-cabana_env.Execute('./generate_dbc_json.py --out car_fingerprint_to_dbc.json')
 cabana_lib = cabana_env.Library("cabana_lib", ['mainwin.cc', 'binaryview.cc', 'chartswidget.cc', 'historylog.cc', 'videowidget.cc', 'signaledit.cc', 'dbcmanager.cc',
                             'canmessages.cc', 'commands.cc', 'messageswidget.cc', 'settings.cc', 'detailwidget.cc'], LIBS=cabana_libs, FRAMEWORKS=base_frameworks)
 cabana_env.Program('_cabana', ['cabana.cc', cabana_lib], LIBS=cabana_libs, FRAMEWORKS=base_frameworks)
 
 if GetOption('test'):
   cabana_env.Program('tests/_test_cabana', ['tests/test_runner.cc', 'tests/test_cabana.cc', cabana_lib], LIBS=[cabana_libs])
+
+def generate_dbc_json(target, source, env):
+  env.Execute('tools/cabana/generate_dbc_json.py --out tools/cabana/car_fingerprint_to_dbc.json')
+cabana_env.Command('generate_dbc_json', [], generate_dbc_json)