diff --git a/package/qemu/qemu.mk b/package/qemu/qemu.mk
index 04df79fcd5..0620804a00 100644
--- a/package/qemu/qemu.mk
+++ b/package/qemu/qemu.mk
@@ -85,10 +85,12 @@ HOST_QEMU_COMPARE_VERSION = $(shell test $(HOST_QEMU_HOST_SYSTEM_VERSION) -ge $(
 # built with kernel headers that are older or the same as the kernel
 # version running on the host machine.
 #
+ifeq ($(BR_BUILDING),y)
 ifneq ($(HOST_QEMU_COMPARE_VERSION),OK)
 $(error "Refusing to build qemu-user: target Linux version newer than host's.")
 endif
 endif
+endif
 
 define HOST_QEMU_CONFIGURE_CMDS
 	cd $(@D); $(HOST_CONFIGURE_OPTS) ./configure    \