diff --git a/package/xinetd/xinetd.mk b/package/xinetd/xinetd.mk
index 6a69a554eb..e8fc037ae6 100644
--- a/package/xinetd/xinetd.mk
+++ b/package/xinetd/xinetd.mk
@@ -11,4 +11,6 @@ ifneq ($(BR2_INET_RPC),y)
 XINETD_CONF_ENV = CFLAGS="$(TARGET_CFLAGS) -DNO_RPC"
 endif
 
+XINETD_MAKE_OPT = AR="$(TARGET_AR)"
+
 $(eval $(call AUTOTARGETS))