diff --git a/target/linux/ramips/Makefile b/target/linux/ramips/Makefile
index 55a8fd62ed..378e2f5b4a 100644
--- a/target/linux/ramips/Makefile
+++ b/target/linux/ramips/Makefile
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ SUBTARGETS:=rt305x mt7620 mt7621 mt7628 mt7688 rt3883 rt288x
 FEATURES:=squashfs gpio mips16
 MAINTAINER:=John Crispin <blogic@openwrt.org>
 
-KERNEL_PATCHVER:=4.4
+KERNEL_PATCHVER:=4.3
 
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/target.mk
 DEFAULT_PACKAGES += \
diff --git a/target/linux/ramips/mt7621/target.mk b/target/linux/ramips/mt7621/target.mk
index 4e38dbd6b1..a0a7afc969 100644
--- a/target/linux/ramips/mt7621/target.mk
+++ b/target/linux/ramips/mt7621/target.mk
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ CFLAGS:=-Os -pipe -mmt -mips32r2 -mtune=1004kc
 
 DEFAULT_PACKAGES += kmod-mt76
 
+KERNEL_PATCHVER:=4.4
+
 define Target/Description
 	Build firmware images for Ralink MT7621 based boards.
 endef