diff --git a/meta/classes/cve-check.bbclass b/meta/classes/cve-check.bbclass
index 6e10dd915a..190c5b9a80 100644
--- a/meta/classes/cve-check.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/cve-check.bbclass
@@ -244,13 +244,15 @@ python cve_check_write_rootfs_manifest () {
 
     if enable_json:
         manifest_name_suffix = d.getVar("CVE_CHECK_MANIFEST_JSON_SUFFIX")
-        link_path = os.path.join(deploy_dir, "%s.%s" % (link_name, manifest_name_suffix))
         manifest_name = d.getVar("CVE_CHECK_MANIFEST_JSON")
 
         with open(manifest_name, "w") as f:
             json.dump(json_data, f, indent=2)
 
-        update_symlinks(manifest_name, link_path)
+        if link_name:
+            link_path = os.path.join(deploy_dir, "%s.%s" % (link_name, manifest_name_suffix))
+            update_symlinks(manifest_name, link_path)
+
         bb.plain("Image CVE JSON report stored in: %s" % manifest_name)
 }