diff --git a/boot/syslinux/syslinux.mk b/boot/syslinux/syslinux.mk
index eedc36420a..7b3f9cf361 100644
--- a/boot/syslinux/syslinux.mk
+++ b/boot/syslinux/syslinux.mk
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ SYSLINUX_SITE    = $(BR2_KERNEL_MIRROR)/linux/utils/boot/syslinux/4.xx/
 SYSLINUX_LICENSE = GPLv2+
 SYSLINUX_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING
 
-SYSLINUX_INSTALL_TARGET = NO
 SYSLINUX_INSTALL_IMAGES = YES
 
 SYSLINUX_DEPENDENCIES = host-nasm host-util-linux
@@ -23,6 +22,12 @@ define SYSLINUX_BUILD_CMDS
 	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) CC="$(HOSTCC) -idirafter $(HOST_DIR)/usr/include $(HOST_LDFLAGS)" AR="$(HOSTAR)" -C $(@D)
 endef
 
+define SYSLINUX_INSTALL_TARGET_CMDS
+	# While the actual bootloader is compiled for the target, several
+	# utilities for installing the bootloader are meant for the host.
+	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) -C $(@D) INSTALLROOT=$(HOST_DIR) install
+endef
+
 SYSLINUX_IMAGES-$(BR2_TARGET_SYSLINUX_ISOLINUX) += isolinux.bin
 SYSLINUX_IMAGES-$(BR2_TARGET_SYSLINUX_PXELINUX) += pxelinux.bin