diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-imx/Makefile b/arch/arm/mach-imx/Makefile
index 53d9e5f42b..eb84315d9d 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-imx/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-imx/Makefile
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ IMX_CONFIG = $(CONFIG_IMX_CONFIG:"%"=%)
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_ARCH_IMX8), y)
 CNTR_DEPFILES := $(srctree)/tools/imx_cntr_image.sh
 IMAGE_TYPE := imx8image
-DEPFILE_EXISTS := $(shell if [ -f u-boot-dtb.cfgout ]; then $(CNTR_DEPFILES) u-boot-dtb.cfgout; echo $$?; fi)
+DEPFILE_EXISTS := $(shell $(CPP) $(cpp_flags) -x c -o u-boot-dtb.cfgout $(srctree)/$(IMX_CONFIG); if [ -f u-boot-dtb.cfgout ]; then $(CNTR_DEPFILES) u-boot-dtb.cfgout; echo $$?; fi)
 else
 IMAGE_TYPE := imximage
 DEPFILE_EXISTS := 0