diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ee3ed9dfca2c..7b750dc0b2da 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1322,6 +1322,16 @@ dt_binding_check: scripts_dtc
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Modules
 
+# install modules.builtin regardless of CONFIG_MODULES
+PHONY += _builtin_inst_
+_builtin_inst_:
+	@mkdir -p $(MODLIB)/
+	@cp -f modules.builtin $(MODLIB)/
+	@cp -f $(objtree)/modules.builtin.modinfo $(MODLIB)/
+
+PHONY += install
+install: _builtin_inst_
+
 ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
 
 # By default, build modules as well
@@ -1365,7 +1375,7 @@ PHONY += modules_install
 modules_install: _modinst_ _modinst_post
 
 PHONY += _modinst_
-_modinst_:
+_modinst_: _builtin_inst_
 	@rm -rf $(MODLIB)/kernel
 	@rm -f $(MODLIB)/source
 	@mkdir -p $(MODLIB)/kernel
@@ -1375,8 +1385,6 @@ _modinst_:
 		ln -s $(CURDIR) $(MODLIB)/build ; \
 	fi
 	@sed 's:^:kernel/:' modules.order > $(MODLIB)/modules.order
-	@cp -f modules.builtin $(MODLIB)/
-	@cp -f $(objtree)/modules.builtin.modinfo $(MODLIB)/
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/scripts/Makefile.modinst
 
 # This depmod is only for convenience to give the initial