diff --git a/tools/binman/etype/collection.py b/tools/binman/etype/collection.py
index c532aafe3e7..866ea8dcc1e 100644
--- a/tools/binman/etype/collection.py
+++ b/tools/binman/etype/collection.py
@@ -45,12 +45,17 @@ class Entry_collection(Entry):
         self.Info('Getting contents, required=%s' % required)
         data = bytearray()
         for entry_phandle in self.content:
-            entry_data = self.section.GetContentsByPhandle(entry_phandle, self,
-                                                           required)
+            entry, entry_data = self.section.GetContentsByPhandle(
+                entry_phandle, self, required)
             if not required and entry_data is None:
                 self.Info('Contents not available yet')
                 # Data not available yet
                 return None
+
+            # Mark referenced entries as build_done to avoid rebuilding
+            if required:
+                entry.mark_build_done()
+
             data += entry_data
 
         self.Info('Returning contents size %x' % len(data))
diff --git a/tools/binman/etype/section.py b/tools/binman/etype/section.py
index 6a26d687056..8530b7ee17f 100644
--- a/tools/binman/etype/section.py
+++ b/tools/binman/etype/section.py
@@ -557,7 +557,8 @@ class Entry_section(Entry):
                 return None
 
         Returns:
-            data from associated entry (as a string), or None if not found
+            tuple: (entry, data) where entry is the Entry object and data is
+                from that entry (as a string), or (entry, None) if data not found
         """
         node = self._node.GetFdt().LookupPhandle(phandle)
         if not node:
@@ -565,7 +566,7 @@ class Entry_section(Entry):
         entry = self.FindEntryByNode(node)
         if not entry:
             source_entry.Raise("Cannot find entry for node '%s'" % node.name)
-        return entry.GetData(required)
+        return entry, entry.GetData(required)
 
     def LookupEntry(self, entries, sym_name, msg):
         """Look up the entry for a binman symbol