diff --git a/arch/xtensa/Makefile b/arch/xtensa/Makefile
index 7608559de93aa647acfb6c8c877fb03208512b83..f973754ddf90414873b2c63bfdd08b4202f2dcb7 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/Makefile
+++ b/arch/xtensa/Makefile
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ endif
 
 # Only build variant and/or platform if it includes a Makefile
 
-buildvar := $(shell test -a $(srctree)/arch/xtensa/variants/$(VARIANT)/Makefile && echo arch/xtensa/variants/$(VARIANT)/)
-buildplf := $(shell test -a $(srctree)/arch/xtensa/platforms/$(PLATFORM)/Makefile && echo arch/xtensa/platforms/$(PLATFORM)/)
+buildvar := $(shell test -e $(srctree)/arch/xtensa/variants/$(VARIANT)/Makefile && echo arch/xtensa/variants/$(VARIANT)/)
+buildplf := $(shell test -e $(srctree)/arch/xtensa/platforms/$(PLATFORM)/Makefile && echo arch/xtensa/platforms/$(PLATFORM)/)
 
 # Find libgcc.a