diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index 7ff7b05042..e0a1ff74f9 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -70,7 +70,11 @@ LINUX_MAKE_ENV = \
 	BR_BINARIES_DIR=$(BINARIES_DIR)
 
 LINUX_INSTALL_IMAGES = YES
-LINUX_DEPENDENCIES = host-kmod \
+LINUX_DEPENDENCIES = host-kmod
+
+# The kernel CONFIG_EXTRA_FIRMWARE feature requires firmware files at build
+# time. Make sure they are available before the kernel builds.
+LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += \
 	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_INTEL_MICROCODE),intel-microcode) \
 	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_LINUX_FIRMWARE),linux-firmware) \
 	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_WIRELESS_REGDB),wireless-regdb)