diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.package b/scripts/Makefile.package
index 0ace3973a0d14..85beab0363d78 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.package
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.package
@@ -92,7 +92,8 @@ rpm-pkg srcrpm-pkg binrpm-pkg: kernel.spec
 	+$(strip rpmbuild -b$(build-type) kernel.spec \
 	--define='_topdir $(abspath rpmbuild)' \
 	$(if $(filter a b, $(build-type)), \
-		--target $(UTS_MACHINE)-linux --build-in-place --noprep --define='_smp_mflags %{nil}') \
+		--target $(UTS_MACHINE)-linux --build-in-place --noprep --define='_smp_mflags %{nil}' \
+		$$(rpm -q rpm >/dev/null 2>&1 || echo --nodeps)) \
 	$(if $(filter b, $(build-type)), \
 		--without devel) \
 	$(RPMOPTS))