diff --git a/packages/linux/package.mk b/packages/linux/package.mk
index c10a45d135..f362139e79 100644
--- a/packages/linux/package.mk
+++ b/packages/linux/package.mk
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ PKG_IS_ADDON="no"
 PKG_AUTORECONF="no"
 
 if [ "$PERF_SUPPORT" = "yes" -a "$DEVTOOLS" = "yes" ]; then
-  PKG_DEPENDS="$PKG_DEPENDS Python"
-  PKG_BUILD_DEPENDS="$PKG_BUILD_DEPENDS elfutils Python"
+  PKG_DEPENDS_TARGET="$PKG_DEPENDS Python"
+  PKG_BUILD_DEPENDS_TARGET="$PKG_BUILD_DEPENDS elfutils Python"
 fi
 
 PKG_MAKE_OPTS_HOST="ARCH=$TARGET_ARCH headers_check"