diff --git a/packages/linux/package.mk b/packages/linux/package.mk
index 7bc1a1f984..9e6350d5fe 100644
--- a/packages/linux/package.mk
+++ b/packages/linux/package.mk
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ case "$LINUX" in
 esac
 
 PKG_KERNEL_CFG_FILE=$(kernel_config_path) || die
-
-if [ -n "$($ROOT/$SCRIPTS/uboot_helper $PROJECT $DEVICE $UBOOT_SYSTEM crust_config)" ]; then
+if [ -n "$UBOOT_SYSTEM" ]; then
+  if [ -n "$($ROOT/$SCRIPTS/uboot_helper $PROJECT $DEVICE $UBOOT_SYSTEM crust_config)" ]; then
     PKG_PATCH_DIRS="$PKG_PATCH_DIRS crust"
+  fi
 fi
 
 if [ -n "$KERNEL_TOOLCHAIN" ]; then