diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/linux-libre.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/linux-libre.nix
index c6e850c99072..f4f3e0ffaf11 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/linux-libre.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/linux-libre.nix
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ in linux.override {
       name = "${linux.name}-libre-src";
       src = linux.src;
       buildPhase = ''
-        ${scripts}/${majorMinor}/deblob-${majorMinor} \
+        # --force flag to skip empty files after deblobbing
+        ${scripts}/${majorMinor}/deblob-${majorMinor} --force \
             ${major} ${minor} ${patch}
       '';
       checkPhase = ''