diff --git a/package/binutils/binutils.mk b/package/binutils/binutils.mk
index 6798356ff2..c70ba13b04 100644
--- a/package/binutils/binutils.mk
+++ b/package/binutils/binutils.mk
@@ -91,9 +91,7 @@ HOST_BINUTILS_CONF_OPTS = \
 
 # binutils run configure script of subdirs at make time, so ensure
 # our TARGET_CONFIGURE_ARGS are taken into consideration for those
-define BINUTILS_BUILD_CMDS
-	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(TARGET_CONFIGURE_ARGS) $(MAKE) $(BINUTILS_MAKE_OPTS) -C $(@D)
-endef
+BINUTILS_MAKE_ENV = $(TARGET_CONFIGURE_ARGS)
 
 # We just want libbfd, libiberty and libopcodes,
 # not the full-blown binutils in staging