diff --git a/src/Terrabuild/Core/GraphPipeline/Node.fs b/src/Terrabuild/Core/GraphPipeline/Node.fs
index 7bc25bfa..414b5dd8 100644
--- a/src/Terrabuild/Core/GraphPipeline/Node.fs
+++ b/src/Terrabuild/Core/GraphPipeline/Node.fs
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ let build (options: ConfigOptions.Options) (configuration: Configuration.Workspa
 
             // auto build by default unless force
             let build =
-                let defaultForce = if options.Force then BuildMode.Always else BuildMode.Auto
-                targetConfig.Build |> Option.defaultValue defaultForce
+                if options.Force then BuildMode.Always
+                else targetConfig.Build |> Option.defaultValue BuildMode.Auto
 
             let required = build = BuildMode.Always
 
diff --git a/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.action.json b/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.action.json
index 48fdf0bd..523f198b 100644
--- a/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.action.json
+++ b/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.action.json
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@
         }
       ],
       "artifacts": "none",
-      "build": "auto",
+      "build": "always",
       "batch": "single",
       "action": "exec",
-      "required": false
+      "required": true
     },
     "workspace/path#c:build": {
       "id": "workspace/path#c:build",
diff --git a/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.batch.json b/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.batch.json
index 77ede2a3..523f198b 100644
--- a/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.batch.json
+++ b/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.batch.json
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
         }
       ],
       "artifacts": "none",
-      "build": "auto",
+      "build": "always",
       "batch": "single",
       "action": "exec",
       "required": true
diff --git a/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.cascade.json b/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.cascade.json
index 77ede2a3..523f198b 100644
--- a/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.cascade.json
+++ b/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.cascade.json
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
         }
       ],
       "artifacts": "none",
-      "build": "auto",
+      "build": "always",
       "batch": "single",
       "action": "exec",
       "required": true
diff --git a/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.node.json b/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.node.json
index 5851954c..710a8d21 100644
--- a/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.node.json
+++ b/tests/indirect-target/results/terrabuild-debug.node.json
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@
         }
       ],
       "artifacts": "none",
-      "build": "auto",
+      "build": "always",
       "batch": "single",
       "action": "ignore",
-      "required": false
+      "required": true
     },
     "workspace/path#c:build": {
       "id": "workspace/path#c:build",