diff --git a/target/linux/ar71xx/image/legacy.mk b/target/linux/ar71xx/image/legacy.mk
index 680dece15b..b9a7f13cae 100644
--- a/target/linux/ar71xx/image/legacy.mk
+++ b/target/linux/ar71xx/image/legacy.mk
@@ -1156,7 +1156,7 @@ endef
 
 define Image/Build/Profile
 	$(call Image/Build/Profile/$(1),buildkernel)
-	$(call Image/Build/Profile/$(1),initramfs)
+	$(if $(CONFIG_TARGET_ROOTFS_INITRAMFS),$(call Image/Build/Profile/$(1),initramfs))
 	$(call Image/Build/Profile/$(1),$(2))
 endef