diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
index 4005dda4374a..d4eff7b7e453 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
@@ -199,14 +199,18 @@ let
       '';
 
       buildFlags = [
-        "DTC_FLAGS=-@"
         "KBUILD_BUILD_VERSION=1-NixOS"
 
         # Set by default in the kernel since a73619a845d5,
         # replicated here to apply to older versions.
         # Makes __FILE__ relative to the build directory.
         "KCPPFLAGS=-fmacro-prefix-map=$(sourceRoot)/="
-      ] ++ extraMakeFlags;
+
+        kernelConf.target
+        "vmlinux"  # for "perf" and things like that
+      ] ++ optional isModular "modules"
+        ++ optionals buildDTBs ["dtbs" "DTC_FLAGS=-@"]
+      ++ extraMakeFlags;
 
       installFlags = [
         "INSTALL_PATH=$(out)"