diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2e74a68878c7..160cadadc471 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -882,9 +882,6 @@ $(sort $(vmlinux-init) $(vmlinux-main)) $(vmlinux-lds): $(vmlinux-dirs) ;
 PHONY += $(vmlinux-dirs)
 $(vmlinux-dirs): prepare scripts
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=$@
-ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
-	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(modbuiltin)=$@
-endif
 
 # Build the kernel release string
 #
@@ -1089,7 +1086,7 @@ ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
 
 # By default, build modules as well
 
-all: modules
+all: modules modules.builtin
 
 #	Build modules
 #
@@ -1100,11 +1097,16 @@ all: modules
 PHONY += modules
 modules: $(vmlinux-dirs) $(if $(KBUILD_BUILTIN),vmlinux)
 	$(Q)$(AWK) '!x[$$0]++' $(vmlinux-dirs:%=$(objtree)/%/modules.order) > $(objtree)/modules.order
-	$(Q)$(AWK) '!x[$$0]++' $(vmlinux-dirs:%=$(objtree)/%/modules.builtin) > $(objtree)/modules.builtin
 	@$(kecho) '  Building modules, stage 2.';
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/scripts/Makefile.modpost
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/scripts/Makefile.fwinst obj=firmware __fw_modbuild
 
+modules.builtin: $(vmlinux-dirs:%=%/modules.builtin)
+	$(Q)$(AWK) '!x[$$0]++' $^ > $(objtree)/modules.builtin
+
+%/modules.builtin: include/config/auto.conf | modules
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(modbuiltin)=$*
+
 
 # Target to prepare building external modules
 PHONY += modules_prepare