diff --git a/meta/classes-recipe/kernel.bbclass b/meta/classes-recipe/kernel.bbclass
index c0a2056fec..4c1cb89a46 100644
--- a/meta/classes-recipe/kernel.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-recipe/kernel.bbclass
@@ -115,7 +115,9 @@ python __anonymous () {
 
         d.setVar('PKG:%s-image-%s' % (kname,typelower), '%s-image-%s-${KERNEL_VERSION_PKG_NAME}' % (kname, typelower))
         d.setVar('ALLOW_EMPTY:%s-image-%s' % (kname, typelower), '1')
-        d.prependVar('pkg_postinst:%s-image-%s' % (kname,typelower), """set +e
+
+        if d.getVar('KERNEL_IMAGETYPE_SYMLINK') == '1':
+            d.prependVar('pkg_postinst:%s-image-%s' % (kname,typelower), """set +e
 if [ -n "$D" ]; then
     ln -sf %s-${KERNEL_VERSION} $D/${KERNEL_IMAGEDEST}/%s > /dev/null 2>&1
 else
@@ -127,7 +129,7 @@ else
 fi
 set -e
 """ % (type, type, type, type, type, type, type))
-        d.setVar('pkg_postrm:%s-image-%s' % (kname,typelower), """set +e
+            d.setVar('pkg_postrm:%s-image-%s' % (kname,typelower), """set +e
 if [ -f "${KERNEL_IMAGEDEST}/%s" -o -L "${KERNEL_IMAGEDEST}/%s" ]; then
     rm -f ${KERNEL_IMAGEDEST}/%s  > /dev/null 2>&1
 fi