diff --git a/package/apr/apr.mk b/package/apr/apr.mk
index 72008d8998..466222586c 100644
--- a/package/apr/apr.mk
+++ b/package/apr/apr.mk
@@ -14,9 +14,18 @@ APR_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 # so we need to autoreconf:
 APR_AUTORECONF = YES
 
+# avoid apr_hints.m4 by setting apr_preload_done=yes and set
+# the needed CFLAGS on our own (avoids '-D_REENTRANT' in case
+# not supported by toolchain and subsequent configure failure)
+APR_CFLAGS = $(TARGET_CFLAGS) -DLINUX -D_GNU_SOURCE
+ifeq ($(BR2_TOOLCHAIN_HAS_THREADS),y)
+APR_CFLAGS += -D_REENTRANT
+endif
+
 APR_CONF_ENV = \
 	CC_FOR_BUILD="$(HOSTCC)" \
 	CFLAGS_FOR_BUILD="$(HOST_CFLAGS)" \
+	CFLAGS="$(APR_CFLAGS)" \
 	ac_cv_file__dev_zero=yes \
 	ac_cv_func_setpgrp_void=yes \
 	apr_cv_process_shared_works=yes \
@@ -31,7 +40,8 @@ APR_CONF_ENV = \
 	apr_cv_epoll_create1=yes \
 	apr_cv_dup3=yes \
 	apr_cv_sock_cloexec=yes \
-	apr_cv_accept4=yes
+	apr_cv_accept4=yes \
+	apr_preload_done=yes
 APR_CONFIG_SCRIPTS = apr-1-config
 
 # Doesn't even try to guess when cross compiling