diff --git a/init/Kconfig b/init/Kconfig
index be8b7f5..fff4cb1 100644
--- a/init/Kconfig
+++ b/init/Kconfig
@@ -1697,6 +1697,15 @@
 
 endchoice
 
+config MODULE_SIG_HASH
+	string
+	depends on MODULE_SIG
+	default "sha1" if MODULE_SIG_SHA1
+	default "sha224" if MODULE_SIG_SHA224
+	default "sha256" if MODULE_SIG_SHA256
+	default "sha384" if MODULE_SIG_SHA384
+	default "sha512" if MODULE_SIG_SHA512
+
 endif # MODULES
 
 config INIT_ALL_POSSIBLE
diff --git a/kernel/Makefile b/kernel/Makefile
index 6c072b6..eceac38 100644
--- a/kernel/Makefile
+++ b/kernel/Makefile
@@ -153,23 +153,7 @@
 # fail and that the kernel may be used afterwards.
 #
 ###############################################################################
-sign_key_with_hash :=
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_SHA1),y)
-sign_key_with_hash := -sha1
-endif
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_SHA224),y)
-sign_key_with_hash := -sha224
-endif
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_SHA256),y)
-sign_key_with_hash := -sha256
-endif
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_SHA384),y)
-sign_key_with_hash := -sha384
-endif
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_SHA512),y)
-sign_key_with_hash := -sha512
-endif
-ifeq ($(sign_key_with_hash),)
+ifndef CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_HASH
 $(error Could not determine digest type to use from kernel config)
 endif
 
@@ -182,8 +166,8 @@
 	@echo "### needs to be run as root, and uses a hardware random"
 	@echo "### number generator if one is available."
 	@echo "###"
-	openssl req -new -nodes -utf8 $(sign_key_with_hash) -days 36500 -batch \
-		-x509 -config x509.genkey \
+	openssl req -new -nodes -utf8 -$(CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_HASH) -days 36500 \
+		-batch -x509 -config x509.genkey \
 		-outform DER -out signing_key.x509 \
 		-keyout signing_key.priv
 	@echo "###"