diff --git a/package/binutils/binutils.mk b/package/binutils/binutils.mk
index 7c5955e25c..a3e27be208 100644
--- a/package/binutils/binutils.mk
+++ b/package/binutils/binutils.mk
@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ HOST_BINUTILS_CONF_OPTS = \
 	$(BINUTILS_DISABLE_GDB_CONF_OPTS) \
 	$(BINUTILS_EXTRA_CONFIG_OPTIONS)
 
+# 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) -C $(@D)
+endef
+
 # We just want libbfd, libiberty and libopcodes,
 # not the full-blown binutils in staging
 define BINUTILS_INSTALL_STAGING_CMDS