diff --git a/package/protobuf-c/protobuf-c.mk b/package/protobuf-c/protobuf-c.mk
index 31fb5932ba..271f6d812b 100644
--- a/package/protobuf-c/protobuf-c.mk
+++ b/package/protobuf-c/protobuf-c.mk
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ PROTOBUF_C_VERSION = 0.15
 PROTOBUF_C_SITE = http://protobuf-c.googlecode.com/files
 PROTOBUF_C_DEPENDENCIES = protobuf host-protobuf-c
 HOST_PROTOBUF_C_DEPENDENCIES = host-protobuf
+PROTOBUF_C_MAKE = $(MAKE1)
 PROTOBUF_C_CONF_OPT = --disable-protoc
 PROTOBUF_C_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 PROTOBUF_C_LICENSE = BSD-3c