diff --git a/payloads/external/Makefile.inc b/payloads/external/Makefile.inc
index 4d3799de89..ec02957b87 100644
--- a/payloads/external/Makefile.inc
+++ b/payloads/external/Makefile.inc
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ LINUXBOOT_CROSS_COMPILE_ARCH-$(CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_ARM)        = arm
 LINUXBOOT_CROSS_COMPILE_ARCH-$(CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_ARM64)      = arm64
 LINUXBOOT_CROSS_COMPILE_ARCH-$(CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_RISCV_RV32) = riscv
 LINUXBOOT_CROSS_COMPILE_ARCH-$(CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_RISCV_RV64) = riscv
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_CROSS_COMPILE),)
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_CROSS_COMPILE),"")
 	CONFIG_LINUXBOOT_CROSS_COMPILE=$(CROSS_COMPILE_$(LINUXBOOT_CROSS_COMPILE_ARCH-y))
 endif
 .PHONY: linuxboot