diff --git a/include/image.mk b/include/image.mk
index c86d739fc9..a47d588488 100644
--- a/include/image.mk
+++ b/include/image.mk
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ endef
 ifndef IB
 define Device/Build/initramfs
   $(call Device/Export,$(KDIR)/tmp/$$(KERNEL_INITRAMFS_IMAGE),$(1))
-  $$(_TARGET): $(BIN_DIR)/$$(KERNEL_INITRAMFS_IMAGE)
+  $$(_TARGET): $$(if $$(KERNEL_INITRAMFS),$(BIN_DIR)/$$(KERNEL_INITRAMFS_IMAGE))
 
   $(KDIR)/$$(KERNEL_INITRAMFS_NAME):: image_prepare
   $(BIN_DIR)/$$(KERNEL_INITRAMFS_IMAGE): $(KDIR)/tmp/$$(KERNEL_INITRAMFS_IMAGE)