diff --git a/payloads/external/LinuxBoot/Makefile b/payloads/external/LinuxBoot/Makefile
index 9a9409eaa3..aaa076911f 100644
--- a/payloads/external/LinuxBoot/Makefile
+++ b/payloads/external/LinuxBoot/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ build/Image: $(CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_KERNEL_PATH)
 	ln -s -r $< $@
 
 
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_COMPILE_KERNEL),y)
 include targets/linux.mk
+endif
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_UROOT),y)
 include targets/u-root.mk
 endif