--- a/include/kernel-defaults.mk
+++ b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ endef
 
 define Kernel/CompileModules/Default
 	rm -f $(LINUX_DIR)/vmlinux $(LINUX_DIR)/System.map
+	+$(KERNEL_MAKE) olddefconfig
 	+$(KERNEL_MAKE) $(if $(KERNELNAME),$(KERNELNAME),all) modules
 	# If .config did not change, use the previous timestamp to avoid package rebuilds
 	cmp -s $(LINUX_DIR)/.config $(LINUX_DIR)/.config.modules.save && \