diff --git a/lambda-layers/DependenciesLayer/Makefile b/lambda-layers/DependenciesLayer/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c61905d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lambda-layers/DependenciesLayer/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+
+build-DependenciesLayer:
+	pip install --break-system-packages setuptools
+	pip install --upgrade -r requirements.txt --target "$(ARTIFACTS_DIR)/python/"
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index c8e647d7..0e3b1b8f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ description = " 📮 A Django port of the original PHP code from electionleaflet
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 dependencies = [
-    "aws-sam-cli==1.131.0",
     "aws-wsgi",
     "dc-design-system",
     "dc-django-utils",
@@ -62,6 +61,7 @@ lint.extend-select = [
 
 [dependency-groups]
 dev = [
+    "aws-sam-cli==1.131.0",
     "pytest==8.3.3",
     "pytest-cov==6.0.0",
     "pytest-django==4.9.0",
diff --git a/template.yaml b/template.yaml
index 6c20d7be..572f3772 100644
--- a/template.yaml
+++ b/template.yaml
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ Resources:
       CompatibleRuntimes:
         - python3.12
     Metadata:
-      BuildMethod: python3.12
+      BuildMethod: makefile
 
 
   ElectionLeafletsFunction:
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index d782d186..0b1e3d25 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -734,7 +734,6 @@ name = "electionleaflets"
 version = "0.1.0"
 source = { virtual = "." }
 dependencies = [
-    { name = "aws-sam-cli" },
     { name = "aws-wsgi" },
     { name = "dc-design-system" },
     { name = "dc-django-utils" },
@@ -770,6 +769,7 @@ deploy = [
 ]
 dev = [
     { name = "aloe-django" },
+    { name = "aws-sam-cli" },
     { name = "django-debug-toolbar" },
     { name = "moto" },
     { name = "pytest" },
@@ -781,7 +781,6 @@ dev = [
 
 [package.metadata]
 requires-dist = [
-    { name = "aws-sam-cli", specifier = "==1.131.0" },
     { name = "aws-wsgi", git = "https://github.com/DemocracyClub/awsgi.git?rev=b286f129c5580547577f942c75be74cdca707386" },
     { name = "dc-design-system", git = "https://github.com/DemocracyClub/design-system.git?rev=c5c5de6b792b4b57997b65370fdcdfa4f099cdf4" },
     { name = "dc-django-utils", git = "https://github.com/DemocracyClub/dc_django_utils.git?rev=7.0.1" },
@@ -817,6 +816,7 @@ deploy = [
 ]
 dev = [
     { name = "aloe-django", specifier = "==0.2.0" },
+    { name = "aws-sam-cli", specifier = "==1.131.0" },
     { name = "django-debug-toolbar", specifier = "==5.0.0a0" },
     { name = "moto", specifier = "==5.0.21" },
     { name = "pytest", specifier = "==8.3.3" },