diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 14dae59273ec..0f438aaeb6e7 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -629,12 +629,15 @@ ifeq ($(may-sync-config),1)
 -include include/config/auto.conf.cmd
 
 # To avoid any implicit rule to kick in, define an empty command
-$(KCONFIG_CONFIG) include/config/auto.conf.cmd: ;
+$(KCONFIG_CONFIG): ;
 
 # The actual configuration files used during the build are stored in
 # include/generated/ and include/config/. Update them if .config is newer than
 # include/config/auto.conf (which mirrors .config).
-include/config/%.conf: $(KCONFIG_CONFIG) include/config/auto.conf.cmd
+#
+# This exploits the 'multi-target pattern rule' trick.
+# The syncconfig should be executed only once to make all the targets.
+%/auto.conf %/auto.conf.cmd %/tristate.conf: $(KCONFIG_CONFIG)
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) -f $(srctree)/Makefile syncconfig
 else
 # External modules and some install targets need include/generated/autoconf.h