diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
index aceaaed09811..b2b9c87cec50 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
@@ -96,9 +96,12 @@ savedefconfig: $(obj)/conf
 defconfig: $(obj)/conf
 ifeq ($(KBUILD_DEFCONFIG),)
 	$< $(silent) --defconfig $(Kconfig)
-else
+else ifneq ($(wildcard arch/$(SRCARCH)/configs/$(KBUILD_DEFCONFIG)),)
 	@$(kecho) "*** Default configuration is based on '$(KBUILD_DEFCONFIG)'"
 	$(Q)$< $(silent) --defconfig=arch/$(SRCARCH)/configs/$(KBUILD_DEFCONFIG) $(Kconfig)
+else
+	@$(kecho) "*** Default configuration is based on target '$(KBUILD_DEFCONFIG)'"
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/Makefile $(KBUILD_DEFCONFIG)
 endif
 
 %_defconfig: $(obj)/conf