diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.modfinal b/scripts/Makefile.modfinal
index 02b892421f7a..d49ec001825d 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.modfinal
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.modfinal
@@ -38,7 +38,12 @@ quiet_cmd_ld_ko_o = LD [M]  $@
 	$(if $(ARCH_POSTLINK), $(MAKE) -f $(ARCH_POSTLINK) $@, true)
 
 quiet_cmd_btf_ko = BTF [M] $@
-      cmd_btf_ko = LLVM_OBJCOPY=$(OBJCOPY) $(PAHOLE) -J --btf_base vmlinux $@
+      cmd_btf_ko = 							\
+	if [ -f vmlinux ]; then						\
+		LLVM_OBJCOPY=$(OBJCOPY) $(PAHOLE) -J --btf_base vmlinux $@; \
+	else								\
+		printf "Skipping BTF generation for %s due to unavailability of vmlinux\n" $@ 1>&2; \
+	fi;
 
 # Same as newer-prereqs, but allows to exclude specified extra dependencies
 newer_prereqs_except = $(filter-out $(PHONY) $(1),$?)
@@ -49,7 +54,7 @@ if_changed_except = $(if $(call newer_prereqs_except,$(2))$(cmd-check),      \
 	printf '%s\n' 'cmd_$@ := $(make-cmd)' > $(dot-target).cmd, @:)
 
 # Re-generate module BTFs if either module's .ko or vmlinux changed
-$(modules): %.ko: %.o %.mod.o scripts/module.lds vmlinux FORCE
+$(modules): %.ko: %.o %.mod.o scripts/module.lds $(if $(KBUILD_BUILTIN),vmlinux) FORCE
 	+$(call if_changed_except,ld_ko_o,vmlinux)
 ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO_BTF_MODULES
 	+$(if $(newer-prereqs),$(call cmd,btf_ko))