diff --git a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
index e81d66021d32..c83e351193cf 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
@@ -987,7 +987,7 @@ def generate_target(self, target):
             if self.environment.is_llvm_ir(src):
                 o, s = self.generate_llvm_ir_compile(target, src)
             else:
-                o, s = self.generate_single_compile(target, src, True, order_deps=header_deps)
+                o, s = self.generate_single_compile(target, src, True, full_deps=header_deps)
             compiled_sources.append(s)
             source2object[s] = o
             obj_list.append(o)
@@ -1031,7 +1031,7 @@ def generate_target(self, target):
             else:
                 transpiled_source_files.append(raw_src)
         for src in transpiled_source_files:
-            o, s = self.generate_single_compile(target, src, True, [], header_deps)
+            o, s = self.generate_single_compile(target, src, True, full_deps=header_deps)
             obj_list.append(o)
 
         # Generate compile targets for all the preexisting sources for this target
@@ -1045,17 +1045,21 @@ def generate_target(self, target):
                                            src.rel_to_builddir(self.build_to_src))
                     unity_src.append(abs_src)
                 else:
-                    o, s = self.generate_single_compile(target, src, False, [],
-                                                        header_deps + d_generated_deps + fortran_order_deps,
-                                                        fortran_inc_args)
+                    o, s = self.generate_single_compile(
+                        target, src, False,
+                        full_deps=header_deps + d_generated_deps + fortran_order_deps,
+                        extra_args=fortran_inc_args)
                     obj_list.append(o)
                     compiled_sources.append(s)
                     source2object[s] = o
 
         if is_unity:
             for src in self.generate_unity_files(target, unity_src):
-                o, s = self.generate_single_compile(target, src, True, unity_deps + header_deps + d_generated_deps,
-                                                    fortran_order_deps, fortran_inc_args, unity_src)
+                o, s = self.generate_single_compile(
+                    target, src, True,
+                    full_deps=unity_deps + header_deps + d_generated_deps + fortran_order_deps,
+                    extra_args=fortran_inc_args,
+                    unity_sources=unity_src)
                 obj_list.append(o)
                 compiled_sources.append(s)
                 source2object[s] = o
@@ -2950,8 +2954,8 @@ def generate_common_compile_args_per_src_type(self, target: build.BuildTarget) -
     def generate_single_compile(self, target: build.BuildTarget,
                                 src: mesonlib.FileOrString,
                                 is_generated: bool = False,
-                                header_deps: T.Optional[T.Sequence[mesonlib.FileOrString]] = None,
-                                order_deps: T.Optional[T.List['mesonlib.FileOrString']] = None,
+                                order_deps: T.Optional[T.Sequence[mesonlib.FileOrString]] = None,
+                                full_deps: T.Optional[T.List['mesonlib.FileOrString']] = None,
                                 extra_args: T.Optional[T.List[str]] = None,
                                 unity_sources: T.Optional[T.List[mesonlib.FileOrString]] = None,
                                 ) -> T.Tuple[str, str]:
@@ -2960,14 +2964,14 @@ def generate_single_compile(self, target: build.BuildTarget,
         :param target: The target which the source belongs to
         :param src: The source to be compiled
         :param is_generated: Whether this source is generated or static, defaults to False
-        :param header_deps: order only dependencies, defaults to None
-        :param order_deps: dependencies which cause a full rebuild, defaults to None
+        :param order_deps: order only dependencies, defaults to None
+        :param full_deps: dependencies which cause a full rebuild, defaults to None
         :param extra_args: extra arguments just for this compilation unit, defaults to None
         :param unity_sources: the sources that were combined into this unity, defaults to None
         :return: A tuple with the object file that will be created and the source that was compiled
         """
-        header_deps = header_deps if header_deps is not None else []
         order_deps = order_deps if order_deps is not None else []
+        full_deps = full_deps if full_deps is not None else []
 
         if isinstance(src, str) and src.endswith('.h'):
             raise AssertionError(f'BUG: sources should not contain headers {src!r}')
@@ -3059,7 +3063,7 @@ def generate_single_compile(self, target: build.BuildTarget,
             commands.extend(extra_args)
 
         element = NinjaBuildElement(self.all_outputs, rel_obj, compiler_name, rel_src)
-        self.add_full_deps(target, element, header_deps)
+        self.add_full_deps(target, element, full_deps)
         for d in extra_deps:
             element.add_dep(d)
         self.add_order_deps(target, element, order_deps)