diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/Makefile b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/Makefile
index 5102bf7c8192..50abae9a72e5 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/Makefile
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/Makefile
@@ -54,8 +54,7 @@ quiet_cmd_mkcapflags = MKCAP   $@
 
 cpufeature = $(src)/../../include/asm/cpufeatures.h
 
-targets += capflags.c
 $(obj)/capflags.c: $(cpufeature) $(src)/mkcapflags.sh FORCE
 	$(call if_changed,mkcapflags)
 endif
-clean-files += capflags.c
+targets += capflags.c