diff --git a/pmb/flasher/frontend.py b/pmb/flasher/frontend.py
index 14f0c7fe..a76b424f 100644
--- a/pmb/flasher/frontend.py
+++ b/pmb/flasher/frontend.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def kernel(args):
         pmb.chroot.initfs.build(args, flavor, "rootfs_" + args.device)
 
     # Check kernel config
-    pmb.parse.kconfig.check(args, flavor)
+    pmb.parse.kconfig.check(args, flavor, must_exist=False)
 
     # Generate the paths and run the flasher
     if args.action_flasher == "boot":
diff --git a/pmb/parse/kconfig.py b/pmb/parse/kconfig.py
index c649cdc1..ee7eaef4 100644
--- a/pmb/parse/kconfig.py
+++ b/pmb/parse/kconfig.py
@@ -167,11 +167,13 @@ def check(args, pkgname,
           force_zram_check=False,
           force_netboot_check=False,
           force_uefi_check=False,
-          details=False):
+          details=False,
+          must_exist=True):
     """
     Check for necessary kernel config options in a package.
 
     :returns: True when the check was successful, False otherwise
+              None if the aport cannot be found (only if must_exist=False)
     """
     # Pkgname: allow omitting "linux-" prefix
     if pkgname.startswith("linux-"):
@@ -181,7 +183,9 @@ def check(args, pkgname,
 
     # Read all kernel configs in the aport
     ret = True
-    aport = pmb.helpers.pmaports.find(args, "linux-" + flavor)
+    aport = pmb.helpers.pmaports.find(args, "linux-" + flavor, must_exist=must_exist)
+    if aport is None:
+        return None
     apkbuild = pmb.parse.apkbuild(f"{aport}/APKBUILD")
     pkgver = apkbuild["pkgver"]
     check_anbox = force_anbox_check or (
diff --git a/test/test_kconfig_check.py b/test/test_kconfig_check.py
index 116c9768..da8ebd51 100644
--- a/test/test_kconfig_check.py
+++ b/test/test_kconfig_check.py
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ def args(tmpdir, request):
 
 
 def test_kconfig_check(args):
+    # non-existing package
+    assert pmb.parse.kconfig.check(args, "non-existing-kernel-package",
+                                   must_exist=False) is None
+
     # basic checks, from easiers to hard-ish
     dir = f"{pmb_test.const.testdata}/kconfig_check/"
     assert not pmb.parse.kconfig.check_file(dir +