diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 29abe44ada91..9880e911afe3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1336,16 +1336,6 @@ dt_binding_check: scripts_dtc
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Modules
 
-# install modules.builtin regardless of CONFIG_MODULES
-PHONY += _builtin_inst_
-_builtin_inst_:
-	@mkdir -p $(MODLIB)/
-	@cp -f modules.builtin $(MODLIB)/
-	@cp -f $(objtree)/modules.builtin.modinfo $(MODLIB)/
-
-PHONY += install
-install: _builtin_inst_
-
 ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
 
 # By default, build modules as well
@@ -1389,7 +1379,7 @@ PHONY += modules_install
 modules_install: _modinst_ _modinst_post
 
 PHONY += _modinst_
-_modinst_: _builtin_inst_
+_modinst_:
 	@rm -rf $(MODLIB)/kernel
 	@rm -f $(MODLIB)/source
 	@mkdir -p $(MODLIB)/kernel
@@ -1399,6 +1389,8 @@ _modinst_: _builtin_inst_
 		ln -s $(CURDIR) $(MODLIB)/build ; \
 	fi
 	@sed 's:^:kernel/:' modules.order > $(MODLIB)/modules.order
+	@cp -f modules.builtin $(MODLIB)/
+	@cp -f $(objtree)/modules.builtin.modinfo $(MODLIB)/
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/scripts/Makefile.modinst
 
 # This depmod is only for convenience to give the initial