diff --git a/target/linux/Makefile.in b/target/linux/Makefile.in
index 21b22d8148..f4ffd5d8d2 100644
--- a/target/linux/Makefile.in
+++ b/target/linux/Makefile.in
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ LINUX26_BINLOC=arch/$(KERNEL_ARCH)/boot/$(LINUX26_FORMAT)
 endif
 
 # File name for the Linux kernel binary
+ifndef	LINUX26_KERNEL
 LINUX26_KERNEL=$(BINARIES_DIR)/linux-kernel-$(LINUX26_VERSION)-$(KERNEL_ARCH)
+endif
 
 # Version of Linux AFTER patches
 LINUX26_DIR=$(BUILD_DIR)/linux-$(LINUX26_VERSION)