diff --git a/package/haproxy/haproxy.mk b/package/haproxy/haproxy.mk
index 63a92090f3..61a9ebebe4 100644
--- a/package/haproxy/haproxy.mk
+++ b/package/haproxy/haproxy.mk
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ endif
 
 define HAPROXY_BUILD_CMDS
 	$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $(MAKE) $(TARGET_CONFIGURE_OPTS) \
-		$(HAPROXY_MAKE_OPTS) CFLAGS="$(HAPROXY_CFLAGS)" -C $(@D)
+		$(HAPROXY_MAKE_OPTS) DEFINE="$(HAPROXY_CFLAGS)" -C $(@D)
 endef
 
 define HAPROXY_INSTALL_TARGET_CMDS