diff --git a/common/xbps-src/shutils/build_dependencies.sh b/common/xbps-src/shutils/build_dependencies.sh
index 5fa38b4832b..f6f6ef251e6 100644
--- a/common/xbps-src/shutils/build_dependencies.sh
+++ b/common/xbps-src/shutils/build_dependencies.sh
@@ -333,7 +333,8 @@ install_pkg_deps() {
         (
         curpkgdepname=$($XBPS_UHELPER_CMD getpkgname "$i" 2>/dev/null)
         setup_pkg $curpkgdepname
-        exec env XBPS_BINPKG_EXISTS=1 $XBPS_LIBEXECDIR/build.sh $sourcepkg $pkg $target || exit $?
+        exec env XBPS_DEPENDENCY=1 XBPS_BINPKG_EXISTS=1 \
+            $XBPS_LIBEXECDIR/build.sh $sourcepkg $pkg $target || exit $?
         ) || exit $?
         host_binpkg_deps+=("$i")
     done