diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 88f7b988bca1..44d25babd521 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -173,10 +173,8 @@ include $(DROOT)/rules.d/4-checks.mk
 
 control_files := $(DEBIAN)/control.stub.in
 ifeq ($(do_libc_dev_package),true)
-ifneq (,$(wildcard $(DEBIAN)/control.d/linux-libc-dev.stub))
 	control_files += $(DEBIAN)/control.d/linux-libc-dev.stub
 endif
-endif
 
 # Calculate Ubuntu Compatible Signing levels
 UBUNTU_COMPATIBLE_SIGNING=$(shell grep -qx ' *Subject: C = GB, ST = Isle of Man, O = Canonical Ltd., OU = Secure Boot, CN = Canonical Ltd. Secure Boot Signing (2021 v3)' debian/canonical-revoked-certs.pem && echo ubuntu/4 pro/3)
diff --git a/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk b/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk
index ade7674b1111..c38945163ae6 100644
--- a/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk
+++ b/debian/rules.d/0-common-vars.mk
@@ -121,9 +121,7 @@ ifeq ($(do_full_build),false)
 do_source_package_content=false
 endif
 
-# linux-libc-dev may not be needed, default to building it only for the
-# primary variant
-ifneq ($(filter --,$(variants)),)
+ifeq ($(DEBIAN),debian.master)
 do_libc_dev_package=true
 else
 do_libc_dev_package=false
diff --git a/debian/rules.d/2-binary-arch.mk b/debian/rules.d/2-binary-arch.mk
index f2c3ce046767..8d7fd7b45b6e 100644
--- a/debian/rules.d/2-binary-arch.mk
+++ b/debian/rules.d/2-binary-arch.mk
@@ -557,10 +557,6 @@ binary-arch-headers: install-arch-headers
 	dh_testdir
 	dh_testroot
 ifeq ($(do_libc_dev_package),true)
-ifeq ($(filter debian.master%,$(DEBIAN)),)
-	echo "non-master branch building linux-libc-dev, aborting"
-	exit 1
-endif
 	$(call dh_all,linux-libc-dev)
 endif