diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 183eff3..0d2a056 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -960,7 +960,7 @@ PHONY += modules_install
 modules_install: _modinst_ _modinst_post
 
 PHONY += _modinst_
-_modinst_:
+_modinst_: include/config/kernel.release
 	@rm -rf $(MODLIB)/kernel
 	@rm -f $(MODLIB)/source
 	@mkdir -p $(MODLIB)/kernel
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@ modules_install: _emodinst_ _emodinst_post
 
 install-dir := $(if $(INSTALL_MOD_DIR),$(INSTALL_MOD_DIR),extra)
 PHONY += _emodinst_
-_emodinst_:
+_emodinst_: include/config/kernel.release
 	$(Q)mkdir -p $(MODLIB)/$(install-dir)
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/scripts/Makefile.modinst