diff --git a/sys/conf/kmod.mk b/sys/conf/kmod.mk
index 5d4dcd4371b..4482034baf6 100644
--- a/sys/conf/kmod.mk
+++ b/sys/conf/kmod.mk
@@ -354,7 +354,8 @@ _kmodinstall: .PHONY
 
 .include <bsd.links.mk>
 
-.if !defined(NO_XREF)
+# XXX: kldxref lacks support for arm
+.if !defined(NO_XREF) && ${MACHINE_CPUARCH} != "arm"
 afterinstall: _kldxref
 .ORDER: realinstall _kldxref
 .ORDER: _installlinks _kldxref
diff --git a/sys/modules/Makefile b/sys/modules/Makefile
index c14933eebda..dc914946ff4 100644
--- a/sys/modules/Makefile
+++ b/sys/modules/Makefile
@@ -908,7 +908,8 @@ SUBDIR:= ${SUBDIR:N${reject}}
 .endif # MODULES_OVERRIDE -- Keep last
 
 # Calling kldxref(8) for each module is expensive.
-.if !defined(NO_XREF)
+# XXX: kldxref lacks support for arm
+.if !defined(NO_XREF) && ${MACHINE_CPUARCH} != "arm"
 .MAKEFLAGS+=	-DNO_XREF
 afterinstall: .PHONY
 	${KLDXREF_CMD} ${DESTDIR}${KMODDIR}