diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml b/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
index 9924bf3..755d4f0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-test.yml
@@ -8,34 +8,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build and install Google Test
         if: always()
         run: make gtest install-gtest
-      - name: Install abseil library
-        run: |
-          git clone https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp.git
-          cd abseil-cpp
-          mkdir build && cd build
-          sudo apt install cmake
-          cmake ..
-          sudo cmake --build . --target install
+      - name: Build and install Abseil
+        if: always()
+        run: make abseil install-abseil
       - name: Cache protobuf library
         id: cache-protobuf
         uses: actions/cache@v1
         with:
           path: protobuf
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-protobuf
-      - name: Build protobuf library
-        if: steps.cache-protobuf.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-        run: |
-          git clone https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf.git
-          cd protobuf
-          git submodule update --init --recursive
-          cmake . -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=14
-          cmake --build .
+      - name: Build Protobuf
+        if: always()
+        run: make protobuf
       - name: Install protobuf library
         if: always()
-        run: |
-          cd protobuf
-          sudo make install
-          sudo ldconfig
+        run: make install-protobuf
       - name: Build and test ADAK
         if: always()
         run: make build-and-test USE_CORES=1
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c37e89d..9a133d2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -54,20 +54,17 @@ lint :
 # --------------
 # Build protobuf
 # --------------
-PROTOBUF_INSTALL_DIR = ~/protobuf
 protobuf : clean-protobuf
 	git clone https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf.git
 	cd protobuf && \
 	git submodule update --init --recursive
-	cd protobuf && cmake . -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=14 \
-		-DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$(PROTOBUF_INSTALL_DIR) \
-		-Dprotobuf_ABSL_PROVIDER=package \
-		-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=$(ABSEIL_INSTALL_DIR)
+	cd protobuf && cmake . -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=14
 	cd protobuf && cmake --build . -j $(USE_CORES)
-	mkdir -p $(PROTOBUF_INSTALL_DIR)
-	cd protobuf && make install
 
-clean-protobuf :
+install-protobuf : FORCE
+	cd protobuf && sudo make install && sudo ldconfig
+
+clean-protobuf : FORCE
 	rm -rf protobuf $(PROTOBUF_INSTALL_DIR)
 
 # ------------------------------
@@ -89,16 +86,17 @@ clean-gtest : FORCE
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Build abseil rather than depending on whatever is already installed
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------
-ABSEIL_INSTALL_DIR = ~/abseil
 abseil : clean-abseil
 	git clone https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp.git
 	cd abseil-cpp && mkdir build
-	cd abseil-cpp/build && cmake -DABSL_BUILD_TESTING=ON -DABSL_USE_GOOGLETEST_HEAD=ON \
-		-DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=14 -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$(ABSEIL_INSTALL_DIR) ..
+	cd abseil-cpp/build && cmake -DABSL_BUILD_TESTING=ON -DABSL_USE_GOOGLETEST_HEAD=ON -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=14 ..
+	cd abseil-cpp/build && cmake --build . -j $(USE_CORES)
+
+install-abseil : FORCE
 	cd abseil-cpp/build && cmake --build . --target install -j $(USE_CORES)
 
-clean-abseil : 
-	rm -rf abseil-cpp $(ABSEIL_INSTALL_DIR)
+clean-abseil : FORCE
+	rm -rf abseil-cpp
 
 # ----------------------------------------------
 # This is the most comprehensive automated