diff --git a/include/kernel-defaults.mk b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
index db93a53d71..863c180e48 100644
--- a/include/kernel-defaults.mk
+++ b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Kernel/Patch:=$(Kernel/Patch/Default)
 ifneq (,$(findstring .xz,$(LINUX_SOURCE)))
   LINUX_CAT:=xzcat
 else
-  LINUX_CAT:=zcat
+  LINUX_CAT:=gzip -dc
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(strip $(CONFIG_EXTERNAL_KERNEL_TREE)),"")