diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9dfb1e0824..067458b6a9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -261,6 +261,7 @@ unexport CPP
 unexport CFLAGS
 unexport CXXFLAGS
 unexport GREP_OPTIONS
+unexport TAR_OPTIONS
 unexport CONFIG_SITE
 unexport QMAKESPEC
 unexport TERMINFO