diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 6280aa1..29339b4 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -981,7 +981,7 @@
 # boot a modules.dep even before / is mounted read-write.  However the
 # boot script depmod is the master version.
 PHONY += _modinst_post
-_modinst_post: _modinst_
+_modinst_post: include/config/kernel.release _modinst_
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/scripts/Makefile.fwinst obj=firmware __fw_modinst
 	$(call cmd,depmod)