diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1ae5d5180f20..fed9a6cc3665 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -277,10 +277,6 @@ no-dot-config-targets := $(clean-targets) \
 			 $(version_h) headers headers_% archheaders archscripts \
 			 %asm-generic kernelversion %src-pkg dt_binding_check \
 			 outputmakefile rustavailable rustfmt rustfmtcheck
-# Installation targets should not require compiler. Unfortunately, vdso_install
-# is an exception where build artifacts may be updated. This must be fixed.
-no-compiler-targets := $(no-dot-config-targets) install dtbs_install \
-			headers_install modules_install modules_sign kernelrelease image_name
 no-sync-config-targets := $(no-dot-config-targets) %install modules_sign kernelrelease \
 			  image_name
 single-targets := %.a %.i %.ko %.lds %.ll %.lst %.mod %.o %.rsi %.s %.symtypes %/
@@ -288,7 +284,6 @@ single-targets := %.a %.i %.ko %.lds %.ll %.lst %.mod %.o %.rsi %.s %.symtypes %
 config-build	:=
 mixed-build	:=
 need-config	:= 1
-need-compiler	:= 1
 may-sync-config	:= 1
 single-build	:=
 
@@ -298,18 +293,14 @@ ifneq ($(filter $(no-dot-config-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
 	endif
 endif
 
-ifneq ($(filter $(no-compiler-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
-	ifeq ($(filter-out $(no-compiler-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
-		need-compiler :=
-	endif
-endif
-
 ifneq ($(filter $(no-sync-config-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
 	ifeq ($(filter-out $(no-sync-config-targets), $(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
 		may-sync-config :=
 	endif
 endif
 
+need-compiler := $(may-sync-config)
+
 ifneq ($(KBUILD_EXTMOD),)
 	may-sync-config :=
 endif