--- a/depmod.c
+++ b/depmod.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ struct module_search
 
 static char sym_prefix; /* used for -P option */
 static unsigned int skipchars; /* prefix target part of basedir to skip over */
-static unsigned int make_map_files = 1; /* default to on */
+static unsigned int make_map_files = 0; /* default to off */
 static unsigned int force_map_files = 0; /* default to on */
 
 #define SYMBOL_HASH_SIZE 1024
