diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c b/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c
index df6a188b9930..b91cf241a539 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/confdata.c
@@ -222,8 +222,10 @@ int conf_read_simple(const char *name, int def)
 				continue;
 			if (def == S_DEF_USER) {
 				sym = sym_find(line + 9);
-				if (!sym)
+				if (!sym) {
+					sym_add_change_count(1);
 					break;
+				}
 			} else {
 				sym = sym_lookup(line + 9, 0);
 				if (sym->type == S_UNKNOWN)
@@ -259,8 +261,10 @@ int conf_read_simple(const char *name, int def)
 			}
 			if (def == S_DEF_USER) {
 				sym = sym_find(line + 7);
-				if (!sym)
+				if (!sym) {
+					sym_add_change_count(1);
 					break;
+				}
 			} else {
 				sym = sym_lookup(line + 7, 0);
 				if (sym->type == S_UNKNOWN)