diff --git a/support/dependencies/check-host-cmake.mk b/support/dependencies/check-host-cmake.mk
index 914327fe1a..ef080ff7c6 100644
--- a/support/dependencies/check-host-cmake.mk
+++ b/support/dependencies/check-host-cmake.mk
@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@
 #
 BR2_CMAKE_VERSION_MIN = 3.1
 
-BR2_CMAKE ?= cmake
-ifeq ($(call suitable-host-package,cmake,\
-	$(BR2_CMAKE_VERSION_MIN) $(BR2_CMAKE)),)
+BR2_CMAKE_CANDIDATES ?= cmake
+BR2_CMAKE ?= $(call suitable-host-package,cmake,\
+	$(BR2_CMAKE_VERSION_MIN) $(BR2_CMAKE_CANDIDATES))
+ifeq ($(BR2_CMAKE),)
 BR2_CMAKE = $(HOST_DIR)/usr/bin/cmake
 BR2_CMAKE_HOST_DEPENDENCY = host-cmake
 endif