diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index f34f46afc8..ef890981bb 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -583,7 +583,9 @@ $(2)_DEPENDENCIES += host-skeleton
 endif
 
 ifneq ($$(filter cvs git svn,$$($(2)_SITE_METHOD)),)
-$(2)_DOWNLOAD_DEPENDENCIES += $(BR2_TAR_HOST_DEPENDENCY)
+$(2)_DOWNLOAD_DEPENDENCIES += \
+	$(BR2_GZIP_HOST_DEPENDENCY) \
+	$(BR2_TAR_HOST_DEPENDENCY)
 endif
 
 ifeq ($$(filter host-tar host-skeleton host-fakedate,$(1)),)
diff --git a/support/dependencies/check-host-gzip.mk b/support/dependencies/check-host-gzip.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bf9a369a7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/support/dependencies/check-host-gzip.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+ifeq (,$(call suitable-host-package,gzip))
+BR2_GZIP_HOST_DEPENDENCY = host-gzip
+endif
diff --git a/support/dependencies/check-host-gzip.sh b/support/dependencies/check-host-gzip.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..5f344c5f9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/support/dependencies/check-host-gzip.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+candidate="$1" # ignored
+
+gzip="$(which gzip)"
+if [ ! -x "${gzip}" ]; then
+    # echo nothing: no suitable gzip found
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# gzip displays its version string on stdout
+# pigz displays its version string on stderr
+version="$("${gzip}" --version 2>&1)"
+case "${version}" in
+  (*pigz*)
+    # echo nothing: no suitable gzip found
+    exit 1
+    ;;
+esac
+
+printf "%s" "${gzip}"