diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/Makefile b/arch/powerpc/kernel/Makefile
index d14cebf62bb03e42732c174a67d5f2134dffe13e..2346d271fbfdbc5bb8323a588de5124e3237cabf 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/Makefile
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/Makefile
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ PHONY += systbl_chk
 systbl_chk: $(src)/systbl_chk.sh $(obj)/systbl_chk.i
 	$(call cmd,systbl_chk)
 
+
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_PPC_MERGE),y)
+
 $(obj)/built-in.o:		prom_init_check
 
 quiet_cmd_prom_init_check = CALL    $<
@@ -114,4 +117,7 @@ PHONY += prom_init_check
 prom_init_check: $(src)/prom_init_check.sh $(obj)/prom_init.o
 	$(call cmd,prom_init_check)
 
+endif
+
+
 clean-files := vmlinux.lds