diff --git a/arch/nios2/boot/Makefile b/arch/nios2/boot/Makefile
index c899876320df..76dce0a438a6 100644
--- a/arch/nios2/boot/Makefile
+++ b/arch/nios2/boot/Makefile
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ $(obj)/vmlinux.bin: vmlinux FORCE
 $(obj)/vmlinux.gz: $(obj)/vmlinux.bin FORCE
 	$(call if_changed,gzip)
 
-$(obj)/vmImage: $(obj)/vmlinux.gz
+$(obj)/vmImage: $(obj)/vmlinux.gz FORCE
 	$(call if_changed,uimage)
 	@$(kecho) 'Kernel: $@ is ready'