diff --git a/hypervisor/Makefile b/hypervisor/Makefile
index 660818a42..286d72a72 100644
--- a/hypervisor/Makefile
+++ b/hypervisor/Makefile
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ HV_OBJDIR ?= $(CURDIR)/build
 HV_MODDIR ?= $(HV_OBJDIR)/modules
 HV_FILE := acrn
 SUB_MAKEFILES := $(wildcard */Makefile)
-RELEASE ?= 0
 
 LIB_MOD = $(HV_MODDIR)/lib_mod.a
 BOOT_MOD = $(HV_MODDIR)/boot_mod.a
@@ -111,7 +110,7 @@ else
 LDFLAGS += -static
 endif
 
-ifeq ($(RELEASE),y)
+ifeq (y, $(CONFIG_RELEASE))
 LDFLAGS += -s
 endif