diff --git a/package/expat/expat.mk b/package/expat/expat.mk
index 5c1a444c7a..e7bb74a966 100644
--- a/package/expat/expat.mk
+++ b/package/expat/expat.mk
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ EXPAT_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 EXPAT_INSTALL_STAGING_OPTS = DESTDIR=$(STAGING_DIR) installlib
 EXPAT_INSTALL_TARGET_OPTS = DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) installlib
 EXPAT_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf
+HOST_EXPAT_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf
 EXPAT_LICENSE = MIT
 EXPAT_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING