diff --git a/meta/classes-recipe/kernel-module-split.bbclass b/meta/classes-recipe/kernel-module-split.bbclass
index 413f39d641a..99c2d129629 100644
--- a/meta/classes-recipe/kernel-module-split.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-recipe/kernel-module-split.bbclass
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ post_strip_kernel_modules_signing(){
         oe_runmake \
             -C ${KBUILD_OUTPUT}  \
             MODLIB=${PKGD}${KERNEL_MODULE_INSTALL_PREFIX} \
-            ${@'M=%s' % oe.kernel_module.get_ext_mod(d) if not "virtual/kernel" in d.getVar('PROVIDES') else ''} \
+            ${@'M=%s' % '${S}' if not "virtual/kernel" in d.getVar('PROVIDES') else ''} \
             modules_sign
     fi
 }
diff --git a/meta/lib/oe/kernel_module.py b/meta/lib/oe/kernel_module.py
index edf723033f1..0d27fbaa57f 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oe/kernel_module.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oe/kernel_module.py
@@ -25,24 +25,3 @@ def kernel_module_os_env(d, env_dict):
         env_dict['KBUILD_EXTRA_SYMBOLS'] = kbuild_extra_symbols
     else:
         env_dict['KBUILD_EXTRA_SYMBOLS'] = ''
-
-def get_ext_mod(d):
-    """
-    Extract the resolved Kbuild M= variable from an out of tree module Makefile variable database.
-    """
-    import re
-    import bb.process
-
-    try:
-        output = bb.process.run(
-            "make -C %s --dry-run --print-data-base" % d.getVar("B")
-        )[0]
-    except bb.process.ExecutionError:
-        return d.getVar("S")
-
-    for line in output.splitlines():
-        m = re.match(r'^M\s*=\s*(.*)$', line)
-        if m:
-            return m.group(1).strip()
-
-    return d.getVar("S")