diff --git a/arch/powerpc/boot/Makefile b/arch/powerpc/boot/Makefile
index 396821cfaad0..61a6f34ca5ed 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/boot/Makefile
+++ b/arch/powerpc/boot/Makefile
@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ $(obj)/zImage.initrd.%: vmlinux $(wrapperbits) $(dts)
 $(obj)/zImage.%: vmlinux $(wrapperbits) $(dts)
 	$(call if_changed,wrap,$*,$(dts))
 
+# This cannot be in the root of $(src) as the zImage rule always adds a $(obj)
+# prefix
+$(obj)/vmlinux.strip: vmlinux
+	$(STRIP) -s -R .comment $< -o $@
+
 $(obj)/zImage.iseries: vmlinux
 	$(STRIP) -s -R .comment $< -o $@
 
@@ -199,6 +204,11 @@ $(obj)/treeImage.initrd.%: vmlinux $(dts) $(wrapperbits)
 $(obj)/treeImage.%: vmlinux $(dts) $(wrapperbits)
 	$(call if_changed,wrap,treeboot-$*,$(dts))
 
+# If there isn't a platform selected then just strip the vmlinux.
+ifeq (,$(image-y))
+image-y := vmlinux.strip
+endif
+
 $(obj)/zImage:		$(addprefix $(obj)/, $(image-y))
 	@rm -f $@; ln $< $@
 $(obj)/zImage.initrd:	$(addprefix $(obj)/, $(initrd-y))