diff --git a/system/popen/Kconfig b/system/popen/Kconfig
index a91117c51..42bbf3e55 100644
--- a/system/popen/Kconfig
+++ b/system/popen/Kconfig
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ config SYSTEM_POPEN
 	bool "popen()/pclose() Functions"
 	default n
 	select SCHED_WAITPID
-	depends on NSH_LIBRARY
+	depends on NSH_LIBRARY && !BUILD_KERNEL
 	---help---
 		Enable support for the popen() and pclose() interfaces.
 		This will support execution of NSH commands from C code with