diff --git a/arch/arm/dts/Makefile b/arch/arm/dts/Makefile
index d8160feb3..49c3eea4a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/dts/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/dts/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 BUILTIN_DTB := $(patsubst "%",%,$(CONFIG_BUILTIN_DTB_NAME))
+ifneq ($(BUILTIN_DTB),)
 obj-dtb-$(CONFIG_BUILTIN_DTB) += $(BUILTIN_DTB).dtb.o
+endif
 
 # just to build a built-in.o. Otherwise compilation fails when no devicetree is
 # created.