diff --git a/arch/powerpc/Makefile b/arch/powerpc/Makefile
index c345b79414a9..403f7e193833 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/Makefile
+++ b/arch/powerpc/Makefile
@@ -39,13 +39,11 @@ endif
 uname := $(shell uname -m)
 KBUILD_DEFCONFIG := $(if $(filter ppc%,$(uname)),$(uname),ppc64)_defconfig
 
-ifdef CONFIG_PPC64
 new_nm := $(shell if $(NM) --help 2>&1 | grep -- '--synthetic' > /dev/null; then echo y; else echo n; fi)
 
 ifeq ($(new_nm),y)
 NM		:= $(NM) --synthetic
 endif
-endif
 
 # BITS is used as extension for files which are available in a 32 bit
 # and a 64 bit version to simplify shared Makefiles.