diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 692f6e0..55de920 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -542,6 +542,7 @@ scripts: scripts_basic include/config/auto.conf include/config/tristate.conf \
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=$(@)
 
 # Objects we will link into vmlinux / subdirs we need to visit
+backports-y	:= backports/
 init-y		:= init/
 drivers-y	:= drivers/ sound/ firmware/
 net-y		:= net/
@@ -820,6 +821,7 @@ core-y		+= kernel/ mm/ fs/ ipc/ security/ crypto/ block/
 
 vmlinux-dirs	:= $(patsubst %/,%,$(filter %/, $(init-y) $(init-m) \
 		     $(core-y) $(core-m) $(drivers-y) $(drivers-m) \
+			$(backports-y) $(backports-m) \
 		     $(net-y) $(net-m) $(libs-y) $(libs-m)))
 
 vmlinux-alldirs	:= $(sort $(vmlinux-dirs) $(patsubst %/,%,$(filter %/, \