diff --git a/package/file/file.mk b/package/file/file.mk
index 12647af8bb..62cec4b2c9 100644
--- a/package/file/file.mk
+++ b/package/file/file.mk
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ FILE_SITE = ftp://ftp.astron.com/pub/file
 FILE_DEPENDENCIES = host-file
 HOST_FILE_DEPENDENCIES = host-zlib
 FILE_CONF_ENV = ac_cv_prog_cc_c99='-std=gnu99'
+HOST_FILE_CONF_ENV = ac_cv_prog_cc_c99='-std=gnu99'
 FILE_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 FILE_LICENSE = BSD-2-Clause, BSD-4-Clause (one file), BSD-3-Clause (one file)
 FILE_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING src/mygetopt.h src/vasprintf.c