diff --git a/package/pkg-generic.mk b/package/pkg-generic.mk
index abd050b1..a8a723b6 100644
--- a/package/pkg-generic.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-generic.mk
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ endef
 define TARGET_MAKE
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Building")
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_BUILD_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
-	$(Q)$(call $(PKG)_MAKE_CMDS)
+	$(Q)$(call $(PKG)_BUILD_CMDS)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_BUILD_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 endef
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ endef
 define HOST_MAKE
 	@$(call MESSAGE,"Compiling")
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_BUILD_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
-	$(Q)$(call $(PKG)_MAKE_CMDS)
+	$(Q)$(call $(PKG)_BUILD_CMDS)
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_BUILD_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 endef
 
diff --git a/package/pkg-meson.mk b/package/pkg-meson.mk
index 08d8ab3d..ee6da485 100644
--- a/package/pkg-meson.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-meson.mk
@@ -63,13 +63,20 @@ define TARGET_MESON_CONFIGURE
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_CONFIGURE_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 endef
 
-define TARGET_NINJA_BUILD
+define TARGET_NINJA_CMDS
 	$(CHDIR)/$($(PKG)_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SUBDIR); \
 		$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $($(PKG)_NINJA_ENV) \
 		$(HOST_NINJA_BINARY) -C $(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/build \
 			$($(PKG)_NINJA_OPTS)
 endef
 
+define TARGET_NINJA_BUILD
+	@$(call MESSAGE,"Building")
+	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_BUILD_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
+	$(Q)$(call $(PKG)_BUILD_CMDS)
+	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_BUILD_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
+endef
+
 define TARGET_NINJA_INSTALL
 	$(CHDIR)/$($(PKG)_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SUBDIR); \
 		$(TARGET_MAKE_ENV) $($(PKG)_NINJA_ENV) \
@@ -111,13 +118,20 @@ define HOST_MESON_CONFIGURE
 	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_CONFIGURE_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
 endef
 
-define HOST_NINJA_BUILD
+define HOST_NINJA_CMDS
 	$(CHDIR)/$($(PKG)_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SUBDIR); \
 		$(HOST_MAKE_ENV) $($(PKG)_NINJA_ENV) \
 		$(HOST_NINJA_BINARY) -C $(PKG_BUILD_DIR)/build \
 			$($(PKG)_NINJA_OPTS)
 endef
 
+define HOST_NINJA_BUILD
+	@$(call MESSAGE,"Building")
+	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_PRE_BUILD_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
+	$(Q)$(call $(PKG)_BUILD_CMDS)
+	$(foreach hook,$($(PKG)_POST_BUILD_HOOKS),$(call $(hook))$(sep))
+endef
+
 define HOST_NINJA_INSTALL
 	$(CHDIR)/$($(PKG)_DIR)/$($(PKG)_SUBDIR); \
 		$(HOST_MAKE_ENV) $($(PKG)_NINJA_ENV) \
diff --git a/package/pkg-utils.mk b/package/pkg-utils.mk
index adcda2ab..8fe5933a 100644
--- a/package/pkg-utils.mk
+++ b/package/pkg-utils.mk
@@ -86,13 +86,6 @@ endif
 ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE
   $(PKG)_MAKE = $$(MAKE)
 endif
-ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_CMDS
-  ifeq ($(PKG_HOST_PACKAGE),YES)
-    $(PKG)_MAKE_CMDS = $$(HOST_MAKE_CMDS)
-  else
-    $(PKG)_MAKE_CMDS = $$(TARGET_MAKE_CMDS)
-  endif
-endif
 ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_ENV
   $(PKG)_MAKE_ENV =
 endif
@@ -103,6 +96,24 @@ ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_OPTS
   $(PKG)_MAKE_OPTS =
 endif
 
+# build commands
+# TODO: python, kernel
+ifndef $(PKG)_BUILD_CMDS
+  ifeq ($(PKG_MODE),$(filter $(PKG_MODE),AUTOTOOLS CMAKE GENERIC))
+    ifeq ($(PKG_HOST_PACKAGE),YES)
+      $(PKG)_BUILD_CMDS = $$(HOST_MAKE_CMDS)
+    else
+      $(PKG)_BUILD_CMDS = $$(TARGET_MAKE_CMDS)
+    endif
+  else ifeq ($(PKG_MODE),$(filter $(PKG_MODE),MESON))
+    ifeq ($(PKG_HOST_PACKAGE),YES)
+      $(PKG)_BUILD_CMDS = $$(HOST_NINJA_CMDS)
+    else
+      $(PKG)_BUILD_CMDS = $$(TARGET_NINJA_CMDS)
+    endif
+  endif
+endif
+
 # make install
 ifndef $(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL
   $(PKG)_MAKE_INSTALL = $$($(PKG)_MAKE)