diff --git a/Makefile.objs b/Makefile.objs
index 5aae561984..395dd1e670 100644
--- a/Makefile.objs
+++ b/Makefile.objs
@@ -4,16 +4,15 @@ stub-obj-y = stubs/
 util-obj-y = crypto/ util/ qobject/ qapi/
 qom-obj-y = qom/
 
+#######################################################################
+# code used by both qemu system emulation and qemu-img
+
+ifeq ($(call lor,$(CONFIG_SOFTMMU),$(CONFIG_TOOLS)),y)
+
 chardev-obj-y = chardev/
 
-#######################################################################
-# authz-obj-y is code used by both qemu system emulation and qemu-img
-
 authz-obj-y = authz/
 
-#######################################################################
-# block-obj-y is code used by both qemu system emulation and qemu-img
-
 block-obj-y = nbd/
 block-obj-y += block.o blockjob.o job.o
 block-obj-y += block/ scsi/
@@ -22,16 +21,12 @@ block-obj-$(CONFIG_REPLICATION) += replication.o
 
 block-obj-m = block/
 
-#######################################################################
-# crypto-obj-y is code used by both qemu system emulation and qemu-img
-
 crypto-obj-y = crypto/
 
-#######################################################################
-# io-obj-y is code used by both qemu system emulation and qemu-img
-
 io-obj-y = io/
 
+endif # CONFIG_SOFTMMU or CONFIG_TOOLS
+
 ######################################################################
 # Target independent part of system emulation. The long term path is to
 # suppress *all* target specific code in case of system emulation, i.e. a