diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/tegra114/Makefile b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/tegra114/Makefile
index 886b5092d68..77e231959b3 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/tegra114/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/tegra114/Makefile
@@ -17,4 +17,5 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-obj- :=
+# necessary to create built-in.o
+obj- := __dummy__.o
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/tegra30/Makefile b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/tegra30/Makefile
index 518d6d1b3e4..413eba102a4 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/tegra30/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/tegra30/Makefile
@@ -17,4 +17,5 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-obj- :=
+# necessary to create built-in.o
+obj- := __dummy__.o
diff --git a/arch/nds32/cpu/n1213/Makefile b/arch/nds32/cpu/n1213/Makefile
index bb3550eb476..206d304d4c5 100644
--- a/arch/nds32/cpu/n1213/Makefile
+++ b/arch/nds32/cpu/n1213/Makefile
@@ -9,4 +9,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier:	GPL-2.0+
 #
 
+# necessary to create built-in.o
+obj- := __dummy__.o
+
 extra-y	= start.o
diff --git a/board/freescale/common/Makefile b/board/freescale/common/Makefile
index 25f063d3add..f6a08797531 100644
--- a/board/freescale/common/Makefile
+++ b/board/freescale/common/Makefile
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ MINIMAL=y
 endif
 endif
 
-ifndef MINIMAL
+ifdef MINIMAL
+# necessary to create built-in.o
+obj- := __dummy__.o
+else
 obj-$(CONFIG_FSL_CADMUS)	+= cadmus.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_FSL_VIA)		+= cds_via.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_FMAN_ENET)	+= fman.o
diff --git a/board/samsung/origen/Makefile b/board/samsung/origen/Makefile
index 37acba71e01..1add9fe626f 100644
--- a/board/samsung/origen/Makefile
+++ b/board/samsung/origen/Makefile
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 #
 
 ifdef CONFIG_SPL_BUILD
+# necessary to create built-in.o
+obj- := __dummy__.o
+
 hostprogs-y := tools/mkorigenspl
 always := $(hostprogs-y)
 
diff --git a/board/samsung/smdkv310/Makefile b/board/samsung/smdkv310/Makefile
index 9e37b4e7807..de0da167be1 100644
--- a/board/samsung/smdkv310/Makefile
+++ b/board/samsung/smdkv310/Makefile
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 #
 
 ifdef CONFIG_SPL_BUILD
+# necessary to create built-in.o
+obj- := __dummy__.o
+
 hostprogs-y := tools/mksmdkv310spl
 always := $(hostprogs-y)
 else
diff --git a/board/spear/common/Makefile b/board/spear/common/Makefile
index 08dc09f06df..b0ba320481b 100644
--- a/board/spear/common/Makefile
+++ b/board/spear/common/Makefile
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier:	GPL-2.0+
 #
 
-ifndef CONFIG_SPL_BUILD
+ifdef CONFIG_SPL_BUILD
+# necessary to create built-in.o
+obj- := __dummy__.o
+else
 obj-y	:= spr_misc.o
 obj-y	+= spr_lowlevel_init.o
 endif
diff --git a/board/spear/x600/Makefile b/board/spear/x600/Makefile
index f9053feec35..18d3dd2e6fa 100644
--- a/board/spear/x600/Makefile
+++ b/board/spear/x600/Makefile
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier:	GPL-2.0+
 #
 
-ifndef CONFIG_SPL_BUILD
+ifdef CONFIG_SPL_BUILD
+# necessary to create built-in.o
+obj- := __dummy__.o
+else
 obj-y	:= fpga.o x600.o
 endif