diff --git a/include/kernel-defaults.mk b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
index d5dc63e4ce..46190a1485 100644
--- a/include/kernel-defaults.mk
+++ b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ define Kernel/CompileImage/Initramfs
 	$(if $(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH),touch -hcd "@$(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH)" $(TARGET_DIR)/init)
 	rm -rf $(KERNEL_BUILD_DIR)/linux-$(LINUX_VERSION)/usr/initramfs_data.cpio*
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_TARGET_ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_SEPARATE),y)
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_EXTERNAL_CPIO),y)
+ifneq ($(qstrip $(CONFIG_EXTERNAL_CPIO)),)
 	$(CP) $(CONFIG_EXTERNAL_CPIO) $(KERNEL_BUILD_DIR)/initrd.cpio
 else
 	( cd $(TARGET_DIR); find . | cpio -o -H newc -R root:root > $(KERNEL_BUILD_DIR)/initrd.cpio )