diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 80bae8a1341f..d79823428cd7 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -264,6 +264,10 @@ no-dot-config-targets := $(clean-targets) \
 			 $(version_h) headers headers_% archheaders archscripts \
 			 %asm-generic kernelversion %src-pkg dt_binding_check \
 			 outputmakefile
+# Installation targets should not require compiler. Unfortunately, vdso_install
+# is an exception where build artifacts may be updated. This must be fixed.
+no-compiler-targets := $(no-dot-config-targets) install dtbs_install \
+			headers_install modules_install kernelrelease image_name
 no-sync-config-targets := $(no-dot-config-targets) %install kernelrelease \
 			  image_name
 single-targets := %.a %.i %.ko %.lds %.ll %.lst %.mod %.o %.s %.symtypes %/
@@ -271,6 +275,7 @@ single-targets := %.a %.i %.ko %.lds %.ll %.lst %.mod %.o %.s %.symtypes %/
 config-build	:=
 mixed-build	:=
 need-config	:= 1
+need-compiler	:= 1
 may-sync-config	:= 1
 single-build	:=
 
@@ -280,6 +285,12 @@ ifneq ($(filter $(no-dot-config-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
 	endif
 endif
 
+ifneq ($(filter $(no-compiler-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
+	ifeq ($(filter-out $(no-compiler-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
+		need-compiler :=
+	endif
+endif
+
 ifneq ($(filter $(no-sync-config-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
 	ifeq ($(filter-out $(no-sync-config-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
 		may-sync-config :=
@@ -586,7 +597,9 @@ endif
 
 # Include this also for config targets because some architectures need
 # cc-cross-prefix to determine CROSS_COMPILE.
+ifdef need-compiler
 include $(srctree)/scripts/Makefile.compiler
+endif
 
 ifdef config-build
 # ===========================================================================