diff --git a/package/pkg-download.mk b/package/pkg-download.mk
index bec213fb71..7028d3917a 100644
--- a/package/pkg-download.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-download.mk
@@ -109,7 +109,9 @@ endif
 
 define DOWNLOAD
 	$(Q)mkdir -p $($(2)_DL_DIR)
-	$(Q)$(EXTRA_ENV) $($(2)_DL_ENV) \
+	$(Q)$(EXTRA_ENV) \
+	$($(2)_DL_ENV) \
+	TAR="$(TAR)" \
 	BR_NO_CHECK_HASH_FOR="$(if $(BR2_DOWNLOAD_FORCE_CHECK_HASHES),,$(BR_NO_CHECK_HASH_FOR))" \
 		flock $($(2)_DL_DIR)/.lock $(DL_WRAPPER) \
 		-c '$($(2)_DL_VERSION)' \