diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.build b/scripts/Makefile.build
index 88bfd4b51378..42066d24b13e 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.build
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.build
@@ -412,13 +412,12 @@ $(sort $(subdir-obj-y)): $(subdir-ym) ;
 # combine symversions for later processing
 quiet_cmd_update_lto_symversions = SYMVER  $@
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_LTO_CLANG) $(CONFIG_MODVERSIONS),y y)
-      cmd_update_lto_symversions =			\
-	rm -f $@.symversions;				\
-	for i in $(filter-out FORCE,$^); do		\
-		if [ -f $$i.symversions ]; then		\
-			cat $$i.symversions 		\
-				>> $@.symversions;	\
-		fi;					\
+      cmd_update_lto_symversions =					\
+	rm -f $@.symversions;						\
+	for i in $(foreach n,						\
+			$(filter-out FORCE,$^),				\
+			$(if $(wildcard $(n).symversions),$(n))); do	\
+		cat $$i.symversions >> $@.symversions;			\
 	done
 else
       cmd_update_lto_symversions = echo >/dev/null