diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
index ab30fe724c43..7656e1137b6b 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/Makefile
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ configfiles=$(wildcard $(srctree)/kernel/configs/$@ $(srctree)/arch/$(SRCARCH)/c
 %.config: $(obj)/conf
 	$(if $(call configfiles),, $(error No configuration exists for this target on this architecture))
 	$(Q)$(CONFIG_SHELL) $(srctree)/scripts/kconfig/merge_config.sh -m .config $(configfiles)
-	+$(Q)yes "" | $(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/Makefile oldconfig
+	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/Makefile olddefconfig
 
 PHONY += kvmconfig
 kvmconfig: kvm_guest.config