diff --git a/src/file.c b/src/file.c
index 4835e4f8..925ce8d8 100644
--- a/src/file.c
+++ b/src/file.c
@@ -788,7 +788,9 @@ snap_deps (void)
 #endif
 }
 
-/* Set the 'command_state' member of FILE and all its 'also_make's.  */
+/* Set the 'command_state' member of FILE and all its 'also_make's.
+   Don't decrease the state of also_make's (e.g., don't downgrade a 'running'
+   also_make to a 'deps_running' also_make).  */
 
 void
 set_command_state (struct file *file, enum cmd_state state)
@@ -798,7 +800,8 @@ set_command_state (struct file *file, enum cmd_state state)
   file->command_state = state;
 
   for (d = file->also_make; d != 0; d = d->next)
-    d->file->command_state = state;
+    if (state > d->file->command_state)
+      d->file->command_state = state;
 }
 
 /* Convert an external file timestamp to internal form.  */
diff --git a/src/filedef.h b/src/filedef.h
index 8af562a1..9d4b816f 100644
--- a/src/filedef.h
+++ b/src/filedef.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ struct file
         us_question,            /* Needs to be updated (-q is is set).  */
         us_failed               /* Update failed.  */
       } update_status ENUM_BITFIELD (2);
-    enum cmd_state              /* State of the commands.  */
+    enum cmd_state              /* State of commands.  ORDER IS IMPORTANT!  */
       {
         cs_not_started = 0,     /* Not yet started.  Must be 0!  */
         cs_deps_running,        /* Dep commands running.  */
diff --git a/tests/scripts/features/patternrules b/tests/scripts/features/patternrules
index f76724eb..177bb32c 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/features/patternrules
+++ b/tests/scripts/features/patternrules
@@ -220,6 +220,22 @@ all: foo.x foo-mt.x
 
 1;
 
+# Test pattern rules building the same targets
+# See SV 54233.  Rely on our standard test timeout to break the loop
+
+touch('a.c');
+
+run_make_test(q!
+all: a.elf a.dbg
+
+%.elf %.lnk: %.c ; : $*.elf $*.lnk
+
+%.elf %.dbg: %.lnk ; : $*.elf $*.dbg
+!,
+    '-j2', ": a.elf a.lnk\n: a.elf a.dbg\n");
+
+unlink('a.c');
+
 # This tells the test driver that the perl test script executed properly.
 1;