diff --git a/include/kernel-version.mk b/include/kernel-version.mk
index 003fc085b3..c3e3e140a0 100644
--- a/include/kernel-version.mk
+++ b/include/kernel-version.mk
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ LINUX_KERNEL_MD5SUM?=x
 
 split_version=$(subst ., ,$(1))
 merge_version=$(subst $(space),.,$(1))
-KERNEL=$(call merge_version,$(wordlist 1,2,$(call split_version,$(LINUX_VERSION))))
+KERNEL_BASE=$(firstword $(subst -, ,$(LINUX_VERSION)))
+KERNEL=$(call merge_version,$(wordlist 1,2,$(call split_version,$(KERNEL_BASE))))
 KERNEL_PATCHVER=$(call merge_version,$(wordlist 1,3,$(call split_version,$(LINUX_VERSION))))