diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index 9c2aa77a10..bd5589bae0 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -74,11 +74,11 @@ LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += host-lzop
 else ifeq ($(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_XZ),y)
 LINUX_DEPENDENCIES += host-xz
 endif
-LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_GZIP) = CONFIG_KERNEL_GZIP
-LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_LZ4) = CONFIG_KERNEL_LZ4
-LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_LZMA) = CONFIG_KERNEL_LZMA
-LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_LZO) = CONFIG_KERNEL_LZO
-LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_XZ) = CONFIG_KERNEL_XZ
+LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_GZIP) += CONFIG_KERNEL_GZIP
+LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_LZ4) += CONFIG_KERNEL_LZ4
+LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_LZMA) += CONFIG_KERNEL_LZMA
+LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_LZO) += CONFIG_KERNEL_LZO
+LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_$(BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_XZ) += CONFIG_KERNEL_XZ
 
 # If host-uboot-tools is selected by the user, assume it is needed to
 # create a custom image
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ endif
 define LINUX_KCONFIG_FIXUP_CMDS
 	$(if $(LINUX_NEEDS_MODULES),
 		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_MODULES,$(@D)/.config))
-	$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,$(LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_y),$(@D)/.config)
+	$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,$(strip $(LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_y)),$(@D)/.config)
 	$(foreach opt, $(LINUX_COMPRESSION_OPT_),
 		$(call KCONFIG_DISABLE_OPT,$(opt),$(@D)/.config)
 	)