diff --git a/keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/default/keymap.c b/keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/default/keymap.c
index ef70decd53..49de607737 100644
--- a/keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/default/keymap.c
+++ b/keyboards/ergodox_ez/keymaps/default/keymap.c
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 #include QMK_KEYBOARD_H
-#include "debug.h"
-#include "action_layer.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
 #define BASE 0 // default layer
diff --git a/keyboards/ergodox_ez/rules.mk b/keyboards/ergodox_ez/rules.mk
index ef2aefbb9a..446ba3e21a 100644
--- a/keyboards/ergodox_ez/rules.mk
+++ b/keyboards/ergodox_ez/rules.mk
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@
 #----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # # project specific files
-SRC = matrix.c \
-  i2c_master.c
+SRC += matrix.c
 
 # MCU name
 MCU = atmega32u4
@@ -85,4 +84,9 @@ API_SYSEX_ENABLE = no
 RGBLIGHT_ENABLE = yes
 RGB_MATRIX_ENABLE = no # enable later
 
+ifeq ($(strip $(RGB_MATRIX_ENABLE)), no)
+  SRC += i2c_master.c
+endif
+
+
 LAYOUTS = ergodox