diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c745877..f360b3d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@ PLUGIN_NAME = mycelium-cni
 CNI_PLUGINS_DIR = /opt/cni/bin
 CNI_CONFIG_DIR = /etc/cni/net.d
 
-.PHONY: build install clean test
+.PHONY: build install clean test deps
 
-build:
+deps:
+	go mod tidy
+
+build: deps
 	go build -o $(PLUGIN_NAME) .
 
 install: build
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 183bea7..2ddf08d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -15,13 +15,15 @@ This CNI plugin integrates with the Mycelium overlay network to provide IPv6 con
 ## Installation
 
 ```bash
-# Build the plugin
+# Download dependencies and build the plugin
 make build
 
 # Install plugin and configuration
 make install
 ```
 
+> **Note**: The first build will download Go dependencies automatically via `go mod tidy`.
+
 ## Configuration
 
 The plugin uses a CNI configuration file (`10-mycelium.conflist`) that specifies the Mycelium interface name:
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ sudo systemctl enable --now mycelium
 On each Kubernetes node:
 
 ```bash
-# Build and install the plugin
+# Download dependencies, build and install the plugin
 make build
 sudo make install