diff --git a/package/libcurl/libcurl.mk b/package/libcurl/libcurl.mk
index 8587baadba..7c259b268b 100644
--- a/package/libcurl/libcurl.mk
+++ b/package/libcurl/libcurl.mk
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ LIBCURL_CONF_ENV += ac_cv_lib_crypto_CRYPTO_lock=yes
 # native stuff during the rest of configure when target == host.
 # Fix it by setting LD_LIBRARY_PATH to something sensible so those libs
 # are found first.
-LIBCURL_CONF_ENV += LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/lib:/usr/lib
+LIBCURL_CONF_ENV += LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$(if $(LD_LIBRARY_PATH),$(LD_LIBRARY_PATH):)/lib:/usr/lib
 LIBCURL_CONF_OPTS += --with-ssl=$(STAGING_DIR)/usr \
 	--with-ca-path=/etc/ssl/certs
 else ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_GNUTLS),y)