diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index 700097598d..82376df0e0 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ $(2)_TARGET_DIRCLEAN =		$$($(2)_DIR)/.stamp_dircleaned
 # default extract command
 $(2)_EXTRACT_CMDS ?= \
 	$$(if $$($(2)_SOURCE),$$(INFLATE$$(suffix $$($(2)_SOURCE))) $$(DL_DIR)/$$($(2)_SOURCE) | \
-	$$(TAR) $$(TAR_STRIP_COMPONENTS)=$$($(2)_STRIP_COMPONENTS) -C $$($(2)_DIR) $$(TAR_OPTIONS) -)
+	$$(TAR) --strip-components=$$($(2)_STRIP_COMPONENTS) -C $$($(2)_DIR) $$(TAR_OPTIONS) -)
 
 # pre/post-steps hooks
 $(2)_PRE_DOWNLOAD_HOOKS         ?=
diff --git a/support/dependencies/check-host-tar.mk b/support/dependencies/check-host-tar.mk
index 9729507110..9840a55e28 100644
--- a/support/dependencies/check-host-tar.mk
+++ b/support/dependencies/check-host-tar.mk
@@ -4,6 +4,3 @@ ifeq (,$(call suitable-host-package,tar,$(TAR)))
 DEPENDENCIES_HOST_PREREQ += host-tar
 TAR = $(HOST_DIR)/usr/bin/tar
 endif
-
-# Since TAR is at least 1.17, it will certainly support --strip-components
-TAR_STRIP_COMPONENTS = --strip-components