diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-imx/Makefile b/arch/arm/mach-imx/Makefile
index 63e28c635e..bfff79f88c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-imx/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-imx/Makefile
@@ -114,8 +114,7 @@ endif
 DEPFILE_EXISTS := $(shell $(CPP) $(cpp_flags) -x c -o u-boot-dtb.cfgout $(srctree)/$(IMX_CONFIG); if [ -f u-boot-dtb.cfgout ]; then $(CNTR_DEPFILES) u-boot-dtb.cfgout; echo $$?; fi)
 else ifeq ($(CONFIG_ARCH_IMX8M), y)
 IMAGE_TYPE := imx8mimage
-IMX8M_DEPFILES := $(srctree)/tools/imx8m_image.sh
-DEPFILE_EXISTS := $(shell $(CPP) $(cpp_flags) -x c -o spl/u-boot-spl.cfgout $(srctree)/$(IMX_CONFIG);if [ -f spl/u-boot-spl.cfgout ]; then $(IMX8M_DEPFILES) spl/u-boot-spl.cfgout 0; echo $$?; fi)
+DEPFILE_EXISTS := 0
 else
 IMAGE_TYPE := imximage
 DEPFILE_EXISTS := 0
@@ -150,16 +149,18 @@ endif
 
 ifdef CONFIG_ARM64
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_ARCH_IMX8M), y)
-SPL:
+
+SPL: spl/u-boot-spl.bin spl/u-boot-spl.cfgout FORCE
 
 MKIMAGEFLAGS_flash.bin = -n spl/u-boot-spl.cfgout \
 		   -T $(IMAGE_TYPE) -e $(CONFIG_SPL_TEXT_BASE)
 flash.bin: MKIMAGEOUTPUT = flash.log
 
+spl/u-boot-spl.cfgout: $(IMX_CONFIG) FORCE
+	$(Q)mkdir -p $(dir $@)
+	$(call if_changed_dep,cpp_cfg)
+
 spl/u-boot-spl-ddr.bin: spl/u-boot-spl.bin spl/u-boot-spl.cfgout FORCE
-ifeq ($(DEPFILE_EXISTS),0)
-	$(IMX8M_DEPFILES) spl/u-boot-spl.cfgout 1
-endif
 
 flash.bin: spl/u-boot-spl-ddr.bin u-boot.itb FORCE
 	$(call if_changed,mkimage)