diff --git a/package/pkg-download.mk b/package/pkg-download.mk
index 85842de354..192b9e0331 100644
--- a/package/pkg-download.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-download.mk
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ notdomain=$(patsubst $(call domain,$(1),$(2))$(call domainseparator,$(2))%,%,$(c
 domainseparator=$(if $(1),$(1),/)
 
 # github(user,package,version): returns site of github repository
-github = https://github.com/$(1)/$(2)/tarball/$(3)
+github = https://github.com/$(1)/$(2)/archive/$(3)
 
 ################################################################################
 # The DOWNLOAD_* helpers are in charge of getting a working copy