-KERNEL:=2.$(word 2,$(subst ., ,$(strip $(LINUX_VERSION))))
+split_version=$(subst ., ,$(1))
+merge_version=$(subst $(space),.,$(1))
+KERNEL_BASE=$(firstword $(subst -, ,$(LINUX_VERSION)))
+KERNEL=$(call merge_version,$(wordlist 1,2,$(call split_version,$(KERNEL_BASE))))
+KERNEL_PATCHVER=$(call merge_version,$(wordlist 1,3,$(call split_version,$(KERNEL_BASE))))