diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha b/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
index 35cd5059db83..851167dfbb4c 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.alpha
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 %VERSREQ=	500003
 
 # Can be overridden by makeoptions or /etc/make.conf
-KERNEL_KO?=	kernel.ko
+KERNEL_KO?=	kernel
 KERNEL?=	kernel
 KODIR?=		/boot/${KERNEL}
 STD8X16FONT?=	iso
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386 b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
index 3edee6a6bb4a..c6b2b5d72bd9 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.i386
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 %VERSREQ=	500003
 
 # Can be overridden by makeoptions or /etc/make.conf
-KERNEL_KO?=	kernel.ko
+KERNEL_KO?=	kernel
 KERNEL?=	kernel
 KODIR?=		/boot/${KERNEL}
 STD8X16FONT?=	iso
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98 b/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
index eff4c503b135..ef8afd021222 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.pc98
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 %VERSREQ=	500003
 
 # Can be overridden by makeoptions or /etc/make.conf
-KERNEL_KO?=	kernel.ko
+KERNEL_KO?=	kernel
 KERNEL?=	kernel
 KODIR?=		/boot/${KERNEL}
 #STD8X16FONT?=	iso
diff --git a/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc b/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
index 3edee6a6bb4a..c6b2b5d72bd9 100644
--- a/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
+++ b/sys/conf/Makefile.powerpc
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 %VERSREQ=	500003
 
 # Can be overridden by makeoptions or /etc/make.conf
-KERNEL_KO?=	kernel.ko
+KERNEL_KO?=	kernel
 KERNEL?=	kernel
 KODIR?=		/boot/${KERNEL}
 STD8X16FONT?=	iso