diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index 747e286baf..f34f46afc8 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -582,6 +582,10 @@ ifneq ($(1),host-skeleton)
 $(2)_DEPENDENCIES += host-skeleton
 endif
 
+ifneq ($$(filter cvs git svn,$$($(2)_SITE_METHOD)),)
+$(2)_DOWNLOAD_DEPENDENCIES += $(BR2_TAR_HOST_DEPENDENCY)
+endif
+
 ifeq ($$(filter host-tar host-skeleton host-fakedate,$(1)),)
 $(2)_EXTRACT_DEPENDENCIES += $$(BR2_TAR_HOST_DEPENDENCY)
 endif