diff --git a/package/tar/tar.mk b/package/tar/tar.mk
index c797de9be1..edbd9bdc76 100644
--- a/package/tar/tar.mk
+++ b/package/tar/tar.mk
@@ -7,4 +7,9 @@
 TAR_VERSION = 1.26
 TAR_SITE = $(BR2_GNU_MIRROR)/tar
 
+# Prefer full-blown tar over buybox's version
+ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_BUSYBOX),y)
+TAR_DEPENDENCIES += busybox
+endif
+
 $(eval $(call AUTOTARGETS))