diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index abc0051d259..818d1950e22 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -984,9 +984,9 @@ distclean: mrproper
 # rpm target kept for backward compatibility
 package-dir	:= $(srctree)/scripts/package
 
-%pkg: FORCE
+%pkg: include/config/kernel.release FORCE
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=$(package-dir) $@
-rpm: FORCE
+rpm: include/config/kernel.release FORCE
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=$(package-dir) $@