diff --git a/linux/Config.in b/linux/Config.in
index 16c7ea72fa..84fae910e2 100644
--- a/linux/Config.in
+++ b/linux/Config.in
@@ -129,12 +129,16 @@ config BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_CONFIG_FILE
 # Binary format
 #
 
+config BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_UBOOT_IMAGE
+       bool
+
 choice
 	prompt "Kernel binary format"
 
 config BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_UIMAGE
 	bool "uImage"
 	depends on BR2_arm || BR2_armeb || BR2_bfin || BR2_powerpc || BR2_avr32 || BR2_sh || BR2_sh64
+	select BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_UBOOT_IMAGE
 
 config BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_BZIMAGE
 	bool "bzImage"
diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index 099f8ba042..844ce55294 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ LINUX_PATCHES = $(call qstrip,$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH))
 LINUX_INSTALL_IMAGES = YES
 LINUX_DEPENDENCIES  += host-module-init-tools
 
+ifeq ($(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_UBOOT_IMAGE),y)
+	LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += host-uboot-tools
+endif
+
 LINUX_MAKE_FLAGS = \
 	HOSTCC="$(HOSTCC)" \
 	HOSTCFLAGS="$(HOSTCFLAGS)" \
@@ -64,7 +68,6 @@ LINUX_IMAGE_NAME=vmImage
 else
 LINUX_IMAGE_NAME=uImage
 endif
-LINUX_DEPENDENCIES+=host-uboot-tools
 else ifeq ($(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_BZIMAGE),y)
 LINUX_IMAGE_NAME=bzImage
 else ifeq ($(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_ZIMAGE),y)