diff --git a/package/pkg-kconfig.mk b/package/pkg-kconfig.mk
index c86c340839..f708875bca 100644
--- a/package/pkg-kconfig.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-kconfig.mk
@@ -90,9 +90,11 @@ $$($(2)_TARGET_CONFIGURE): $$($(2)_DIR)/.stamp_kconfig_fixup_done
 ifeq ($$($$($(2)_KCONFIG_VAR)),y)
 
 # FOO_KCONFIG_FILE is required
+ifeq ($$(BR_BUILDING),y)
 ifeq ($$($(2)_KCONFIG_FILE),)
 $$(error Internal error: no value specified for $(2)_KCONFIG_FILE)
 endif
+endif
 
 # Configuration editors (menuconfig, ...)
 #