diff --git a/src/mainboard/google/hatch/Kconfig b/src/mainboard/google/hatch/Kconfig
index 711d2e9..214a1b6 100644
--- a/src/mainboard/google/hatch/Kconfig
+++ b/src/mainboard/google/hatch/Kconfig
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 	select SOC_INTEL_CANNONLAKE_MEMCFG_INIT
 	select SOC_INTEL_COFFEELAKE
 	select SYSTEM_TYPE_LAPTOP
+	select MAINBOARD_USES_IFD_EC_REGION
 
 if BOARD_GOOGLE_BASEBOARD_HATCH
 
diff --git a/src/mainboard/google/sarien/Kconfig b/src/mainboard/google/sarien/Kconfig
index c0bd1d8..5bf4824 100644
--- a/src/mainboard/google/sarien/Kconfig
+++ b/src/mainboard/google/sarien/Kconfig
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 	select SPD_READ_BY_WORD
 	select SYSTEM_TYPE_LAPTOP
 	select TPM2
+	select MAINBOARD_USES_IFD_EC_REGION
 
 if BOARD_GOOGLE_BASEBOARD_SARIEN
 
diff --git a/src/mainboard/intel/cannonlake_rvp/Kconfig b/src/mainboard/intel/cannonlake_rvp/Kconfig
index 028d493..15d56c3 100644
--- a/src/mainboard/intel/cannonlake_rvp/Kconfig
+++ b/src/mainboard/intel/cannonlake_rvp/Kconfig
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 	select DRIVERS_I2C_HID
 	select DRIVERS_I2C_GENERIC
 	select SOC_INTEL_CANNONLAKE
+	select MAINBOARD_USES_IFD_EC_REGION
 
 config MAINBOARD_DIR
 	string
diff --git a/src/mainboard/intel/coffeelake_rvp/Kconfig b/src/mainboard/intel/coffeelake_rvp/Kconfig
index 7597629..9474c51 100644
--- a/src/mainboard/intel/coffeelake_rvp/Kconfig
+++ b/src/mainboard/intel/coffeelake_rvp/Kconfig
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 	select SOC_INTEL_CANNONLAKE_PCH_H if BOARD_INTEL_COFFEELAKE_RVP11 || BOARD_INTEL_COFFEELAKE_RVP8
 	select SOC_INTEL_COMMON_BLOCK_HDA_VERB if BOARD_INTEL_COFFEELAKE_RVP11 || BOARD_INTEL_COFFEELAKE_RVP8 || BOARD_INTEL_WHISKEYLAKE_RVP
 	select SOC_INTEL_COMMON_BLOCK_HDA if BOARD_INTEL_WHISKEYLAKE_RVP
+	select MAINBOARD_USES_IFD_EC_REGION
 
 config MAINBOARD_DIR
 	string
diff --git a/src/mainboard/intel/icelake_rvp/Kconfig b/src/mainboard/intel/icelake_rvp/Kconfig
index 0741bf8..da9c077 100644
--- a/src/mainboard/intel/icelake_rvp/Kconfig
+++ b/src/mainboard/intel/icelake_rvp/Kconfig
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 	select DRIVERS_USB_ACPI
 	select SOC_INTEL_COMMON_BLOCK_HDA_VERB
 	select SOC_INTEL_ICELAKE
+	select MAINBOARD_USES_IFD_EC_REGION
 
 config MAINBOARD_DIR
 	string
diff --git a/src/southbridge/intel/common/firmware/Kconfig b/src/southbridge/intel/common/firmware/Kconfig
index 97fb993..8891c61 100644
--- a/src/southbridge/intel/common/firmware/Kconfig
+++ b/src/southbridge/intel/common/firmware/Kconfig
@@ -120,9 +120,12 @@
 	depends on HAVE_GBE_BIN
 	default "3rdparty/blobs/mainboard/$(MAINBOARDDIR)/gbe.bin"
 
+config MAINBOARD_USES_IFD_EC_REGION
+	def_bool n
+
 config HAVE_EC_BIN
 	bool "Add EC firmware"
-	depends on HAVE_IFD_BIN
+	depends on HAVE_IFD_BIN && MAINBOARD_USES_IFD_EC_REGION
 	help
 	  The embedded controller needs a firmware file.