diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index e0d437427d..d307970065 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -62,7 +62,13 @@ LINUX_PATCHES = $(call qstrip,$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_PATCH))
 LINUX_PATCH = $(filter ftp://% http://% https://%,$(LINUX_PATCHES))
 
 LINUX_INSTALL_IMAGES = YES
-LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += host-bison host-flex host-kmod
+LINUX_DEPENDENCIES = host-kmod
+
+# Starting with 4.16, the generated kconfig paser code is no longer
+# shipped with the kernel sources, so we need flex and bison.
+# Starting with 4.17, the generated dtc parser code is no longer
+# shipped with the kernel sources, so we need flex and bison.
+LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += host-bison host-flex
 
 # host tools needed for kernel compression
 ifeq ($(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_LZ4),y)