diff --git a/arch/mips/Makefile b/arch/mips/Makefile
index 3e9eb0650cac..fad3d7974617 100644
--- a/arch/mips/Makefile
+++ b/arch/mips/Makefile
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ ifdef need-compiler
     endif
 
     ifeq ($(KBUILD_SYM32), y)
-      cflags-$(KBUILD_SYM32) += -msym32 -DKBUILD_64BIT_SYM32
+      cflags-y += -msym32 -DKBUILD_64BIT_SYM32
     else
       ifeq ($(CONFIG_CPU_DADDI_WORKAROUNDS), y)
         $(error CONFIG_CPU_DADDI_WORKAROUNDS unsupported without -msym32)