diff --git a/include/kernel-version.mk b/include/kernel-version.mk
index 4ce677183..f47a3f31d 100644
--- a/include/kernel-version.mk
+++ b/include/kernel-version.mk
@@ -37,5 +37,9 @@ split_version=$(subst ., ,$(1))
 merge_version=$(subst $(space),.,$(1))
 KERNEL_BASE=$(firstword $(subst -, ,$(LINUX_VERSION)))
 KERNEL=$(call merge_version,$(wordlist 1,2,$(call split_version,$(KERNEL_BASE))))
-KERNEL_PATCHVER=$(call merge_version,$(wordlist 1,3,$(call split_version,$(KERNEL_BASE))))
+ifeq ($(firstword $(call split_version,$(KERNEL_BASE))),2)
+  KERNEL_PATCHVER=$(call merge_version,$(wordlist 1,3,$(call split_version,$(KERNEL_BASE))))
+else
+  KERNEL_PATCHVER=$(KERNEL)
+endif