diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index 5af167ddca..fa8aa0cad9 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -169,13 +169,14 @@ define LINUX_CONFIGURE_CMDS
 	rm $(KERNEL_ARCH_PATH)/configs/buildroot_defconfig
 	$(if $(BR2_arm)$(BR2_armeb),
 		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_AEABI,$(@D)/.config))
+	$(if $(BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_CPIO),
+		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_BLK_DEV_INITRD,$(@D)/.config))
 	# As the kernel gets compiled before root filesystems are
 	# built, we create a fake cpio file. It'll be
 	# replaced later by the real cpio archive, and the kernel will be
 	# rebuilt using the linux26-rebuild-with-initramfs target.
 	$(if $(BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_INITRAMFS),
 		touch $(BINARIES_DIR)/rootfs.cpio
-		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_BLK_DEV_INITRD,$(@D)/.config)
 		$(call KCONFIG_SET_OPT,CONFIG_INITRAMFS_SOURCE,\"$(BINARIES_DIR)/rootfs.cpio\",$(@D)/.config)
 		$(call KCONFIG_SET_OPT,CONFIG_INITRAMFS_ROOT_UID,0,$(@D)/.config)
 		$(call KCONFIG_SET_OPT,CONFIG_INITRAMFS_ROOT_GID,0,$(@D)/.config))