diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.build b/scripts/Makefile.build
index 0a9d849d0fab..b803233327d0 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.build
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.build
@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ ifneq ($(strip $(real-obj-y) $(need-builtin)),)
 builtin-target := $(obj)/built-in.a
 endif
 
+ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
 modorder-target := $(obj)/modules.order
+endif
 
 # We keep a list of all modules in $(MODVERDIR)