diff --git a/package/webkitgtk/webkitgtk.mk b/package/webkitgtk/webkitgtk.mk
index b42ac3b644..a6974db926 100644
--- a/package/webkitgtk/webkitgtk.mk
+++ b/package/webkitgtk/webkitgtk.mk
@@ -139,4 +139,23 @@ ifeq ($(BR2_ARM_CPU_ARMV5)$(BR2_ARM_CPU_ARMV6)$(BR2_MIPS_CPU_MIPS32R6)$(BR2_MIPS
 WEBKITGTK_CONF_OPTS += -DENABLE_JIT=OFF -DENABLE_C_LOOP=ON -DENABLE_SAMPLING_PROFILER=OFF
 endif
 
+# webkitgtk needs cmake >= 3.20 when not building with ninja, which is
+# above our minimal version in
+# support/dependencies/check-host-cmake.mk, so use the ninja backend:
+# https://github.com/WebKit/WebKit/commit/6cd89696b5d406c1a3d9a7a9bbb18fda9284fa1f
+WEBKITGTK_CONF_OPTS += -GNinja
+WEBKITGTK_DEPENDENCIES += host-ninja
+
+define WEBKITGTK_BUILD_CMDS
+	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(BR2_CMAKE) --build $(WEBKITGTK_BUILDDIR)
+endef
+
+define WEBKITGTK_INSTALL_STAGING_CMDS
+	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) DESTDIR=$(STAGING_DIR) $(BR2_CMAKE) --install $(WEBKITGTK_BUILDDIR)
+endef
+
+define WEBKITGTK_INSTALL_TARGET_CMDS
+	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) $(BR2_CMAKE) --install $(WEBKITGTK_BUILDDIR)
+endef
+
 $(eval $(cmake-package))