diff --git a/hw/char/Makefile.objs b/hw/char/Makefile.objs
index c4947d7ae7..cf086e7114 100644
--- a/hw/char/Makefile.objs
+++ b/hw/char/Makefile.objs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ common-obj-$(CONFIG_IPACK) += ipoctal232.o
 common-obj-$(CONFIG_ESCC) += escc.o
 common-obj-$(CONFIG_NRF51_SOC) += nrf51_uart.o
 common-obj-$(CONFIG_PARALLEL) += parallel.o
-common-obj-$(CONFIG_PARALLEL) += parallel-isa.o
+common-obj-$(CONFIG_ISA_BUS) += parallel-isa.o
 common-obj-$(CONFIG_PL011) += pl011.o
 common-obj-$(CONFIG_SERIAL) += serial.o
 common-obj-$(CONFIG_SERIAL_ISA) += serial-isa.o
diff --git a/hw/char/parallel-isa.c b/hw/char/parallel-isa.c
index 639e179585..a043832e72 100644
--- a/hw/char/parallel-isa.c
+++ b/hw/char/parallel-isa.c
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 /*
  * QEMU Parallel PORT (ISA bus helpers)
  *
+ * These functions reside in a separate file since they also might be
+ * required for linking when compiling QEMU without CONFIG_PARALLEL.
+ *
  * Copyright (c) 2003 Fabrice Bellard
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
diff --git a/hw/i386/Kconfig b/hw/i386/Kconfig
index 78fd70396a..4e4415fc88 100644
--- a/hw/i386/Kconfig
+++ b/hw/i386/Kconfig
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ config PC
     imply ISA_IPMI_KCS
     imply ISA_IPMI_BT
     imply ISA_DEBUG
+    imply PARALLEL
     imply PCI_DEVICES
     imply PVPANIC
     imply QXL
@@ -25,8 +26,6 @@ config PC
     select I82374
     select I8257
     select MC146818RTC
-    # Needed by the board code:
-    select PARALLEL
     # For ACPI builder:
     select SERIAL_ISA
     select ACPI_VMGENID
diff --git a/hw/sparc64/Kconfig b/hw/sparc64/Kconfig
index 4a8166ebb7..d4d76a89be 100644
--- a/hw/sparc64/Kconfig
+++ b/hw/sparc64/Kconfig
@@ -3,13 +3,13 @@ config SUN4U
     imply PCI_DEVICES
     imply SUNHME
     imply TEST_DEVICES
+    imply PARALLEL
     select M48T59
     select ISA_BUS
     select FDC
     select SERIAL_ISA
     select PCI_SABRE
     select IDE_CMD646
-    select PARALLEL
     select PCKBD
     select SIMBA