diff --git a/package/openssl/openssl.mk b/package/openssl/openssl.mk
index 5f6267c682..814c435054 100644
--- a/package/openssl/openssl.mk
+++ b/package/openssl/openssl.mk
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ OPENSSL_POST_CONFIGURE_HOOKS += OPENSSL_FIXUP_STATIC_MAKEFILE
 endif
 
 define HOST_OPENSSL_BUILD_CMDS
-	$(MAKE) -C $(@D)
+	$(HOST_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) -C $(@D)
 endef
 
 define OPENSSL_BUILD_CMDS
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ define OPENSSL_INSTALL_STAGING_CMDS
 endef
 
 define HOST_OPENSSL_INSTALL_CMDS
-	$(MAKE) -C $(@D) install
+	$(HOST_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) -C $(@D) install
 endef
 
 define OPENSSL_INSTALL_TARGET_CMDS