diff --git a/package/python-cffi/python-cffi.mk b/package/python-cffi/python-cffi.mk
index 70fbe02374..7151789926 100644
--- a/package/python-cffi/python-cffi.mk
+++ b/package/python-cffi/python-cffi.mk
@@ -12,4 +12,16 @@ PYTHON_CFFI_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf libffi
 PYTHON_CFFI_LICENSE = MIT
 PYTHON_CFFI_LICENSE_FILES = LICENSE
 
+# This host package uses pkg-config to find libffi, so we have to
+# provide the proper hints for pkg-config to behave properly for host
+# packages.
+HOST_PYTHON_CFFI_ENV = \
+	PKG_CONFIG_ALLOW_SYSTEM_CFLAGS=1 \
+	PKG_CONFIG_ALLOW_SYSTEM_LIBS=1 \
+	PKG_CONFIG="$(PKG_CONFIG_HOST_BINARY)" \
+	PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR="/" \
+	PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR="$(HOST_DIR)/usr/lib/pkgconfig:$(HOST_DIR)/usr/share/pkgconfig"
+HOST_PYTHON_CFFI_DEPENDENCIES = host-pkgconf host-python-pycparser host-libffi
+
 $(eval $(python-package))
+$(eval $(host-python-package))