diff --git a/poky/meta/classes/image.bbclass b/poky/meta/classes/image.bbclass
index 7f1f6f8..47776db 100644
--- a/poky/meta/classes/image.bbclass
+++ b/poky/meta/classes/image.bbclass
@@ -132,7 +132,12 @@
 
 do_rootfs[vardeps] += "${@rootfs_variables(d)}"
 
-do_build[depends] += "virtual/kernel:do_deploy"
+# This is needed to have kernel image in DEPLOY_DIR.
+# This follow many common usecases and user expectations.
+# But if you are building an image which doesn't need the kernel image at all,
+# you can unset this variable manually.
+KERNELDEPLOYDEPEND ?= "virtual/kernel:do_deploy"
+do_build[depends] += "${KERNELDEPMODDEPEND}"
 
 
 python () {