diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b746934f9e..b47c0b0dd4 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -230,6 +230,12 @@ else
 # forwards command line variable definitions those packages get very
 # confused. Fix this by telling make to not do so
 MAKEOVERRIDES =
+# strangely enough O is still passed to submakes with MAKEOVERRIDES
+# (with make 3.81 atleast), the only thing that changes is the output
+# of the origin function (command line -> environment).
+# Unfortunately some packages don't look at origin (E.G. uClibc 0.9.31+)
+# To really make O go away, we have to override it.
+override O:=$(O)
 endif
 
 # bash prints the name of the directory on 'cd <dir>' if CDPATH is