diff --git a/include/kernel-defaults.mk b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
index 1e82f7d739..2e21392016 100644
--- a/include/kernel-defaults.mk
+++ b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ ifneq ($(CONFIG_TARGET_ROOTFS_INITRAMFS),)
 define Kernel/CompileImage/Initramfs
 	$(call Kernel/Configure/Initramfs)
 	$(CP) $(GENERIC_PLATFORM_DIR)/other-files/init $(TARGET_DIR)/init
-	$(if $(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH),touch -hcd "@$(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH)" $(TARGET_DIR)/init)
+	$(if $(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH),touch -hcd "@$(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH)" $(TARGET_DIR) $(TARGET_DIR)/init)
 	rm -rf $(KERNEL_BUILD_DIR)/linux-$(LINUX_VERSION)/usr/initramfs_data.cpio*
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_TARGET_ROOTFS_INITRAMFS_SEPARATE),y)
 ifneq ($(qstrip $(CONFIG_EXTERNAL_CPIO)),)