diff --git a/package/Makefile.autotools.in b/package/Makefile.autotools.in
index ae48654e26..16fc371927 100644
--- a/package/Makefile.autotools.in
+++ b/package/Makefile.autotools.in
@@ -130,9 +130,10 @@ TAR ?= tar
 
 # Retrieve and unpack the archive
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%/.stamp_downloaded:
-# support make source/source-check/external-deps
-ifneq ($(filter source,$(MAKECMDGOALS)),)
+# support make source-check/external-deps
+ifeq ($(MAKELEVEL),1)
 	$(WGET) -P $(DL_DIR) $($(PKG)_SITE)/$($(PKG)_SOURCE)
+	$(if $($(PKG)_PATCH),$(WGET) -P $(DL_DIR) $($(PKG)_SITE)/$($(PKG)_PATCH))
 else
 	$(call MESSAGE,"Downloading")
 ifneq ($(strip $(subst ",,$(BR2_PRIMARY_SITE))),)