diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d97288c0754f..4de172b2e1fb 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1529,9 +1529,6 @@ else # KBUILD_EXTMOD
 
 # We are always building modules
 KBUILD_MODULES := 1
-PHONY += crmodverdir
-crmodverdir:
-	$(cmd_crmodverdir)
 
 PHONY += $(objtree)/Module.symvers
 $(objtree)/Module.symvers:
@@ -1543,7 +1540,7 @@ $(objtree)/Module.symvers:
 
 module-dirs := $(addprefix _module_,$(KBUILD_EXTMOD))
 PHONY += $(module-dirs) modules
-$(module-dirs): crmodverdir $(objtree)/Module.symvers
+$(module-dirs): prepare $(objtree)/Module.symvers
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=$(patsubst _module_%,%,$@)
 
 modules: $(module-dirs)
@@ -1584,7 +1581,8 @@ help:
 
 # Dummies...
 PHONY += prepare scripts
-prepare: ;
+prepare:
+	$(cmd_crmodverdir)
 scripts: ;
 endif # KBUILD_EXTMOD
 
@@ -1709,17 +1707,14 @@ endif
 
 # Modules
 /: prepare scripts FORCE
-	$(cmd_crmodverdir)
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) KBUILD_MODULES=$(if $(CONFIG_MODULES),1) \
 	$(build)=$(build-dir)
 # Make sure the latest headers are built for Documentation
 Documentation/ samples/: headers_install
 %/: prepare scripts FORCE
-	$(cmd_crmodverdir)
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) KBUILD_MODULES=$(if $(CONFIG_MODULES),1) \
 	$(build)=$(build-dir)
 %.ko: prepare scripts FORCE
-	$(cmd_crmodverdir)
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) KBUILD_MODULES=$(if $(CONFIG_MODULES),1)   \
 	$(build)=$(build-dir) $(@:.ko=.o)
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/scripts/Makefile.modpost