diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index 67832127d9..322ccabbd9 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -147,11 +147,14 @@ endif
 
 # We don't want to run depmod after installing the kernel. It's done in a
 # target-finalize hook, to encompass modules installed by packages.
+# Disable building host tools with -Werror: newer gcc versions can be
+# extra picky about some code (https://bugs.busybox.net/show_bug.cgi?id=14826)
 LINUX_MAKE_FLAGS = \
 	HOSTCC="$(HOSTCC) $(HOST_CFLAGS) $(HOST_LDFLAGS)" \
 	ARCH=$(KERNEL_ARCH) \
 	INSTALL_MOD_PATH=$(TARGET_DIR) \
 	CROSS_COMPILE="$(TARGET_CROSS)" \
+	WERROR=0 \
 	DEPMOD=$(HOST_DIR)/sbin/depmod
 
 ifeq ($(BR2_REPRODUCIBLE),y)
diff --git a/package/linux-tools/linux-tool-perf.mk.in b/package/linux-tools/linux-tool-perf.mk.in
index 4e28129f50..d82d45973c 100644
--- a/package/linux-tools/linux-tool-perf.mk.in
+++ b/package/linux-tools/linux-tool-perf.mk.in
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ PERF_MAKE_FLAGS = \
 	ARCH=$(PERF_ARCH) \
 	DESTDIR=$(TARGET_DIR) \
 	prefix=/usr \
-	WERROR=0 \
 	NO_GTK2=1 \
 	NO_LIBPERL=1 \
 	NO_LIBPYTHON=1 \