diff --git a/target/linux/mvebu/image/Makefile b/target/linux/mvebu/image/Makefile
index af29c2baae9..1e4a7910e35 100644
--- a/target/linux/mvebu/image/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/mvebu/image/Makefile
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ endef
 
 define Image/BuildKernel
 	$(foreach dtb,$(TARGET_DTBS),$(call Image/Build/DTB,$(dtb)))
+ ifneq ($(CONFIG_TARGET_ROOTFS_INITRAMFS),)
 	$(call Image/Build/Initramfs)
+ endif
 endef
 
 define Image/Build/squashfs